Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has praised Gunners captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's "very mature" reaction to both his and his team's Europa League heartbreak.
The Gunners were the beaten finalists in the competition last season, but on Thursday they made a surprise exit at the last-32 stage to the Greek side Olympiakos .
Leading 1-0 from the first leg in Athens, the hosts were taken to extra-time at the Emirates Stadium thanks to a header from defender Pape Abou Cisse.
With Arsenal struggling to force a goal to put themselves back in front in the extra half an hour, Aubameyang scored a stunning scissor kick volley to seemingly settle the tie with just seven minutes remaining.
However visiting forward Youssef El Arabi then scored a crucial second away goal just a minute from time, with Aubameyang then missing a glorious chance with virtually the last kick of the game.
"We’re all very down, frustrated and disappointed," admitted Arteta at his press conference on Saturday ahead of Monday's trip to Portsmouth in the FA Cup.
"The first message is I’m right behind them, thank you for the effort they put into the game.
“We found a way to score the goal. But the game management is something we have to improve a lot.”
Aubameyang vowed to recover from the setback in a social media post after the game, with Arteta praising his response both in public and private.
"He was gutted," he said.
"He scored a wonder goal that put us through and the last kick of the game he had the best chance.
“He felt very responsible. We’ll try to be right behind him, he’s been phenomenal all season.
“His reaction - to face the media and everything - was very mature from him.”
