Top Gunners suffer defeat in Greece

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With safe passage to the last 16 already secured, Wenger chose to rest most of his first-team regulars – with 18-year-old left-back Cruise handed a debut and reserve captain Kyle Bartley playing alongside Mikael Silvestre in central defence.

Indeed, but for some better finishing from Theo Walcott – fit again following a hamstring problem – and the wasteful Mexican Carlos Vela, Arsenal’s youngsters would have taken a deserved result from the game.

The impressive Aaron Ramsey also had a late effort cleared off the line but Arsenal’s fate was sealed in the 47th minute when Leonardo latched onto a loose ball and dashed into the left side of the area before slotting through Lukasz Fabianski’s legs.