Arsenal can still progress in the Champions League insists Petr Cech, Olympiakos match will be like 'final'
The Gunners are up against it after losing 5-1 to Bayern Munich
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Your support makes all the difference.Petr Cech has said Arsenal can still progress in the Champions League, insisting the club will "fight until the last minute".
Last night's 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Bayern Munich makes the presence of Arsenal in the knock-out phase unlikely, however it remains a possibility.
The Gunners must win their next match against Dinamo Zagreb and hope Bayern Munich beat Olympiakos. Should that happen, Arsenal would qualify if they beat Olympiakos by a two goal margin in the final round of group games.
Whilst difficult, particularly considering Arsenal have lost on all three previous trips to the Karaiskakis Stadium, Cech remains optimistic.
"We will fight until the last minute. We can win both games and go head to head with Olympiakos. We go to Greece with a final to play," he said in the aftermath of the Allianz Arena mauling.
"We must win both games and see what happens in Athens. We still have a chance so we will fight until the last minute."
Arsenal were convincingly beaten by Bayern Munich, however Cech thinks things could have been different had Mesut Ozil's goal, which was correctly ruled out for handball, been allowed to stand. Had it been, it would have drawn the match level at 1-1.
"We faced Bayern at its best," said Cech. "They were more determined having lost at the Emirates. They were at it right from the start. At the moment we equalised we were back in the game and then it was disallowed and straight after there was a deflection off Per [Mertesacker, for Bayern's second goal].
"That was what decided it. They had more confidence and they scored a third."
Cech was conciliatory in defeat, admitting Bayern Munich were the better side.
"You sometimes have to accept that a team is better than you on the night. In the first-half they were better than us. In the second-half we improved, we had more chances and we played with more risks which meant they could score two more late in the game.
"We have to congratulate Bayern. They had a brilliant game in everything they did first-half. The team who won deserved to win. Have to accept someone if is better than you. We had a much better night at the Emirates, tonight was their time.
"The better team won. They were much better than us. We have to take it on chin and get ready for next two game and take six points."
Arsenal now turn their attention to a North London derby with Tottenham on Sunday with their next Champions League game not until the end of the month. Whether Arsenal will progress is uncertain, but Cech is sure Bayern should be considered among the favourites to go all the way.
"When we beat Bayern 2-0 everyone said maybe they are not great. Tonight they were absolutely magnificent. They have everything to win the Champions League."
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