It appears starting the new campaign with a defeat has become somewhat of a custom at Arsenal.
The north London side, who kicked of their 2015-16 English Premier League campaign with a 2-0 home loss to West Ham, embarked on life in the new Champions League season in similar fashion, losing 2-1.
The Gunners traveled to Croatia to lock horns with Dinamo Zagreb, with hopes of a victory in their opening game high. However, a 24th minute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain own goal left Wenger’s crew trailing, before a 40th minute red card for Olivier Giroud sent everything into a downhill spiral for the FA Cup holders.
Sanchez and Co. threw everything at their opponents in search of an equalizer before conceding a second after the break. The away side did, however, manage a consolidation goal courtesy of English forward Theo Walcott.
The defeat was nothing short of embarrassing for the English giants and their long-serving French manager, especially since it saw Le Prof set a Champions League record, for all the wrong reasons though.
Le Prof, in his 18 consecutive seasons in European football’s premium tournament, has amassed 50 defeats, the most by any manager in the tournament's history.
Arsène Wenger becomes the first manager to lose 50 Champions League main tournament matches.
— Infostrada Sports (@InfostradaLive) September 16, 2015
In addition to that, the loss to the Modri handed the Croatian club their first Champions League victory since September 1999.
Dinamo Zagreb record their first #UCL victory since September 1999... pic.twitter.com/T5709tzWNe
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 16, 2015
This just sets the ground work for what will be a highly-anticipated London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal on Saturday, two sides who seek to establish themselves as title contenders.
The Blues, led by under-fire manager Jose Mourinho, will be looking to get his team’s season back on track after suffering three losses in their first five fixtures.
Furthermore, the Special One will be looking to avoid two consecutive defeats at the hands of Wenger, after seeing his undefeated run against the French boss end in their 2015 Community Shield tie loss to the Gunners.
