Psychology is a huge part of football and on Wednesday night Arsenal were dealt a huge blow when they stumbled to an embarrassing 3-1 defeat against French side AS Monaco in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League of 16 match played at the Emirates.

It is true the gunners have suffered similar defeats like on the opening day of last season when they lost at home to Aston Villa by a similar scoreline but recovered from the next game to go on a 19 game unbeaten run but yesterday’s loss was devastating and the grin on Arsene Wenger's face tells it all.

The Champions League is a bigger kettle of fish in all fairness and the possibility of being knocked out by a team no one absolutely gave a chance is psychologically draining for the manager, players, and even the fans which has made the second leg a huge mountain to climb.

On a night the gunners needed their best players who were all on parade, they decided to be passengers on the pitch. Mesut Ozil was inevitably a magician because he disappeared, Oliver Giroud appeared to suddenly develop two right legs instead of his usual assured left and when he had the chance to head on goal he missed target by a mile - punching the ground in frustration.

Welbeck was running but non were intelligent runs because it didn't create any openings for teammates and sometimes he and Sanchez narrowed their runs instead of stretching the Monaco defense wide and that made defending easy for the French side who were calmer after their second goal and controlled proceedings.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez was not anywhere in the stands yesterday but he will definitely be watching the tape of the match to prepare for the weekend's game against Arsenal.

Like Monaco, the Toffees travel to the Emirates as underdogs but with a hunger to revive their season after a dreadful start and last weekend's draw against Leicester City at the Goodson Park made it their tenth consecutive game of the season with just a win.

The last time these sides met it ended in a pulsating 2-2 draw and the game on Sunday may end the same way because Arsene Wenger will want a good reaction from his players after the disastrous defeat to Monaco while Everton who are currently 20 points adrift the gunners and six points off relegation zone will want to register their second win in eleven games and what better time to play Arsenal than now when they have doubts on their own abilities?

So will it be a case of Arsenal's psychology affecting them against Everton or the Toffees taking advantage of the gunners loss to Monaco when they both meet on Sunday? Guess I've just said the same thing in different ways. Anyways join the debate - who do you think will win?


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