Schalke's Uchida annoyed by shock defeat

Japan right-back Atsuto Uchida admitted he had bitter-sweet feelings after scoring his first Bundesliga goal for Schalke 04 in their shock 3-2 defeat at Hoffenheim ahead of Tuesday's match against Arsenal. It had looked as though Uchida had rescued a point for Schalke on Saturday as his 82nd-minute equaliser made it 2-2 before Hoffenheim's Sven Schipplock netted the 91st-minute winner just two minutes after coming off the bench.

But with Arsenal visiting Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday in the next round of Champions League matches, Uchida said the Royal Blues have to produce a better performance if they are to repeat their 2-0 win in London a fortnight ago.

"We have to look forward and give our best against Arsenal," said the 24-year-old who has made 51 German league appearances since joining Schalke from J-League side Kashima Antlers in 2010 and has played 52 times for Japan. "I am proud to have scored my first Bundesliga goal, but I can't be really happy.

"We definitely wanted to win in Hoffenheim and keep our winning streak going, but it wasn't to be.

"The defeat was very annoying and it hurts." The defeat was Schalke's first in nine games and leaves Bayern Munich seven-points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table with the Royal Blues second.

AFP