Monaco striker Dimitar Berbatov claimed his side wanted to win the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie more than Arsenal, as the French side pulled off an unexpected and hugely impressive 3-1 victory at Emirates Stadium.
The assessment of Arsenal's below-par performance from former Tottenham striker Berbatov will have done little to lighten the gloom of Gunners fans who had high hopes of seeing their side progress to the last eight of the competition for the first time since 2010, but they were stunned by the side perceived to be the weakest of the group winners in this season's Champions League.
Geoffrey Kondogbia's deflected 25-yard strike gave Monaco the lead before Berbatov finished off a counter-attack to double their lead, with Yannick Ferreira Carrasco scoring what could be a crucial third goal for Monaco in injury time at the end of the game.
"Arsenal is a good team, but we wanted the win more than them," was the damning verdict Berbatov offered to Sky Sports. "We were fighting all over the pitch, winning our challenges and scoring the goals.
"Nobody expect that probably, but we were confident in our ability and we deserved to win. We scored our chances and in the end it's a great win for us. It's not over, we have one more game in Monaco and Arsenal is still a dangerous team. We will think about the next game when it comes.
"A team like Arsenal cannot allow themselves to underestimate a team like us, but if they did it, then it's bad for them. You can see on the pitch that we won it."
Berbatov insisted the tie was not over despite Monaco scoring three away goals and establishing a firm advantage, as the experienced Bulgarian did his best to remind his teammates that they still have a job to do in the second leg.
"I don't think like this," added Berbatov, when he was asked whether the tie is already over. "Arsenal is Arsenal, they have great players. One more game and anything can happen. We are going with a comfortable lead, but this is football and anything can happen."