Laurent Koscielny discusses Arsenal’s mentality after PSG draw in the Champions League

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A draw against one of Europe’s top clubs is nothing to be ashamed about but Arsenal could have had so much more.

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has admitted to the club’s official website that PSG’s equalising goal at the Emirates ‘killed’ The Gunners’ chances of picking up a crucial Champions League win.

Arsene Wenger’s hosts were outplayed for large portions of Wednesday’s decider at the Emirates, though profited from two examples of calamitous PSG defending to put themselves within touching distance of a win that would have lifted them to the top of the group.

First, Grzegorz Krychowiak gave away possession in the centre of the park before clipping Alexis Sanchez in the box as he attempted to make amends, allowing Olivier Giroud to confidently cancel out Edinson Cavani’s opener from the spot.

And, on the hour, PSG defender Marquinhos thumped a clearance against Marco Verratti and into his own net.

However, with just over ten minutes to go, Alex Iwobi diverted Lucas Moura’s tame header beyond David Ospina, meaning Arsenal look likely to finish second in their first-round group yet again.

And Koscielny admits that the careless nature of PSG’s leveller destroyed any hopes Arsenal had of hanging on for a potentially season-defining win.

“We tried to win but we conceded the second goal and I think that killed us,” Koscielny told Arsenal.com. “We pressed hard in the last 10 minutes of the first half and first 15 or 20 minutes of the second half, and they were in trouble because they lost so many balls in their own half.

“We were able to create danger in their own half so it was better for us to press high, but after the second goal we stopped pressing and dropped a little bit. We gave them lots of opportunities which is why we conceded the corner and then conceded the goal.”

Arsenal have crashed out in the round-of-16 for the last six seasons, and another second placed finish means they could be forced to pit their wits against the likes of Sevilla or Real Madrid in the New Year.