Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger offered up few excuses for his side's below par display after their were beaten 2-0 by Borussia Dortmund in Germany.
Jurgen Klopp's side could and should have won by a wider margin in a game they dominated for long periods, with Wenger accepting that criticism of his team is justified.
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"We were not at the requested level tonight and Dortmund deserved their win," Wenger told Sky Sports, before trying to find some silver linings in a hugely disappointing performance.
"We were a bit unlucky," he argued. "We conceded a goal just before half-time and just after. Then the game was difficult, but despite our very average performance, we had plenty of chances. That is the paradox of the night. We could have been leading the game. They as well had plenty of chances."
Arsenal's misery was completed as Wenger confirmed midfielder Jack Wilshere has turned his ankle and is now a serious doubt for Saturday's Premier League trip to Aston Villa.
"It's difficult to say how bad it is," said Wenger. "I am a bit cautious, normally it's not very bad but because of his history I'm a bit cautious. Apart from that no player I took off was injured."
Wenger went on to defend striker Danny Welbeck, who was guilty of spurning some clear openings in front of goal. It was Welbeck's first Champions League game for Arsenal since his move from Manchester United earlier this month.
"He was dangerous," stated Wenger. "He tired in the second half, but he couldn't finish tonight. He looked lively and did well. He needs a goal to get that off his shoulders."
Wenger credited Dortmund for having better energy in the game, but said that was largely because, "they had a much easier game than we did on Saturday." Dortmund was coming off a 3-1 win over Freiburg, while Arsenal had just battled Premier League defending champions Manchester City to a 2-2 draw.
Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta joined his manager in offering few excuses for the lethargic display, as he accepted his team contributed to their own downfall in Dortmund.
"We did not perform well enough tonight," he stated. "We face a top side in one of the most difficult stadiums in Europe, we knew that from the start.
"They put us under pressure and it was very sloppy from us to concede the goal with 20 seconds to go in the first half from our own throw in. After you go 1-0 down here, it is very difficult.
"They have a lot of pace and they put a lot of pressure on. We knew that. We play here every year in the Champions League. We gave the ball away too many times in our own half in difficult positions and you can't do that against these sides."