From Arsenal.com
Morning all.
Last nights Champions League semi-final second leg between Inter Milan and Barcelona served up a treat for anyone who loves the game. Other than Barcelona fans of course. Both ties have been entertaining and going into the game, honours were even. Inter went 2-0 up, Barcelona fought back to 3-2 with a place in the final looking secured. That was until 37 years ago old defender, Francesco Acerbi scored in the 3rd minute of added time. The finish was amazing. Inter scored in extra time.
Tonight it’s Arsenal’s turn, our turn and the task ahead for Mikel Arteta’s players is simple, win by more than one goal. Ok, not that simple.
I looked up the statistics for the PSG v Liverpool game earlier in this campaign. Liverpool won. 1-0 in France with 29% possession and 2 shots on goal, 1 of which was their goal in the 87th minute. PSG however, registered 27 shots with 10 on target. As usual, statistics don’t tell the whole story as Alisson had the game of his life in goal and but for him, Liverpool would have been beaten in the same way Aston Villa were. Interestingly though, the possession stats in that game are very similar to the Liverpool game.
PSG go into this game as firm favourites I’m sure and it’ll take a massive performance from Arsenal to get the result required because PSG have a vast number of players who collectively, are a well oiled footballing machine. Luis Enrique, in only his second season at the club has worked magic on the pitch whilst off it, the club have made a number of really good signings including Khvicha Kvaratskhela, Desire Doui and William Pacho. Randal Muani, who PSG paid around £90m for is out on loan with Juventus having had an underwhelming first season at the club. See, big money doesn’t always guarantee a big performer. Slightly tongue in cheek of course.
Luis Enrique had the luxury of resting many of his usual first team players on Saturday. They were defeated by Strasbourg 2-1 but with the League title already secured, I doubt any PSG fans really cares. Mikel Arteta however, played most of his first team players and they still lost to Bournemouth at The Emirates.
I was thinking about our pressing game and whether or not it’s all it’s made out to be. Not just Arsenal’s by the way, but the tactic in general. Yes, it might fluster the opposition goal keeper every once in a while or a dodgy defender but do we really benefit from it or is it little other than more running for our midfielders to do with little reward? If the defence plays round or through our press, we’re left with one, sometimes two players scrabbling back to try and help the defence and against a side like PSG who pass and move swiftly, it might be better to sit back and let them have the ball which we focus on being organised in midfield and defence, making it harder for them to play their game. At The Emirates, PSG went through our midfield with ease and if we are to stand any kind of chance of getting the result we all hope for, we have to be stronger, quicker and smarter.
I know there’s a belief that attack is the best form of defence but I think being defensively strong is the best form of defending. Especially against a side as good as PSG are. Closing them down and stopping the flow to their forward players is surely our best chance of success tonight. Easy to write, very difficult to do.
“We are here to make history, and we have a big opportunity tomorrow. We bring a result that gives us so much clarity about what we have to do. One win away from being in the final. We cannot ask for anything else. Let’s not do the talking [now], let’s do it tomorrow on that pitch at 9pm when the game starts. Show our best, best, best, best version and win the game.”
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta’s team isn’t going to just sit back and defend all night hoping that we’ll get a few really good opportunities to hit them on the break, or at least I doubt it anyway but in some ways, perhaps that isn’t such a bonkers idea. Pragmatic football I believe it’s called.
Saying that, if we can come out of the blocks fast, score an early goal to level the tie and then be smarter than we’ve been of late in the league. Silence the stadium, or at least quieten them down a bit because they’re going to be a rowdy lot.
Sky Sports
We need some big performances out there tonight, we need our captain to bring his best game to the table, to lead by example and make a big impact on this game. It’s not a game for passengers, nor is a game for Mikel Arteta to sit back and watch any passengers either. Be proactive, be bold and be brave.
What’s quite remarkable is that despite our struggles in the Premier League to score goals, in this competition we’ve faired much better, that was until the first leg of this tie when chances came and went without joy. Those opportunities should give this Arsenal team belief ahead of the game. All they need to do is find a way past the 6’ 5” frame of Gianluigi Donnrumma. At least twice…..
After limping off the pitch late in the Bournemouth game, Martin Odegaard is fit. As is Jurrien Timber. Riccardo Calafiori has returned to training too so I expect he’ll be on the bench. Wouldn’t it be great to have Kai Havertz sat next to him? Better still, a 26 year old Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp or Ian Wright.
Lastly, Felix Zwayer is the referee tonight, the official who back in 2005 accepted a £250 bribe from fellow referee Robert Hoyzer. Zwayer served a six-month ban while Hoyzer received a two-year five-month prison sentence and was banned from any role in football for life. Any official or player who gets involved match fixing or accepting bribes should be banned from the game in my opinion. Although I might give Zwayer a ring and offer him £300 just to be fair and consistent during tonight’s game.
Try and enjoy the game guys, assuming you’ll not be hiding behind the settee for most of it….
Catch up in the comments.