JOE WILLOCK was at the heart of Arsenal’s latest defensive horror show after his mistake cost the Gunners.
Freddie Ljungberg’s struggling side travelled to Belgium with a rested squad knowing only a five-goal defeat would see them fail to qualify for the Europa League knockout stages.
Selim Amallah was gifted a goal after Joe Willock’s failed clearanceCredit: Reuters
And they gave the caretaker boss a scare as they fell two goals behind before fighting back to finish level at 2-2.
Things got off to a shaky start after Standard Liege opened the scoring through Samuel Bastien just after half-time.
Bastien’s effort took a huge deflection off Sokratis – a sign of things to come.
Smelling blood Liege pressed for a second and were handed a goal through Arsenal midfielder Willock.
The 20-year-old failed to deal with a cross and almost laid it off to for Selim Amallah to strike.
Amallah’s effort took a ricocheted off David Luiz and past replacement Emiliano Martinez’s outstretched arms.
Fans online were in shock with Willock’s hopeless defending – blasting the midfielder for assisting his opposition with the goal.
One said: “Does Willock get an assist for that Standard goal?”
Another said: “Great assist Willock. 2-0 now.”
One added: “Good assist willock.”
Things quickly turned around for the Gunners as stand-in striker Alexandre Lacazette pulled one back with a header on 78 minutes.
It set Arsenal off as wideman Bukayo Saka curled in an equaliser three minutes later.
Elsewhere Vitoria stunned Frankfurt with a 3-2 away win meaning the Gunners top the group – with the German’s finishing second.
Arsenal qualify top of the group after lucky draw in Europa League against Standard Liege
Alexandre Lacazette was the catalyst to Arsenal’s comebackCredit: Reuters
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
