Photo from Freepik
Morning all.
I don’t often write about the Arsenal women game because I know women’s football is not for everyone but what Renee Slegers team did last night was brilliant. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg of this tie against Real Madrid, they needed a big win if they were to progress any further in the Champions League. The first leg in Spain was played on a dreadful pitch but last night of course, the perfectly cared for Emirates grass was a whole different ball game. And it was, literally!
Renee Slegers team came out of the blocks on a mission and from start to finish, they didn’t stop. Arsenal found the back of the net five times but twice the offside flag denied them. Still, three was enough and Arsenal breezed through to the semifinal where they will face Lyon.
I don’t know how Arsenal didn’t go into the break a goal or two up but any hopes Real Madrid had of hanging on to their two goal cushion were crushed within two minutes of the restart. Two crosses from on loan Chloe Kelly were finished off by Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey to bring the tie level before Russo made it three from a Katie McCabe free-kick around the hour mark.
Arsenal.com
A brilliant Arsenal performance topped off with a fantastic result against one of Spains best.
After the game, Renee Slegers was asked about how special it was to be a part of the huddle at full-time, with supporters belting out North London Forever all around them.
I think they were very active the whole game through and they kept on cheering us on. There were some special moments, I think. It’s always on us to deliver, whether there are fans or not, but this is just so special being a part of Arsenal, playing at the Emirates, so many fans behind us, red and white all over. And yeah, we were singing the North London Forever song in the huddle after the game together with the staff and players for a special moment.
The Lyon tie should be a cracker..
Back to mens game and that’s it for international football for the season and thank goodness for that. With just two months to go, it’s all about securing second in the league and going as far as we can in the Champions League.
With it being an FA Cup weekend, Mikel Arteta’s team don’t play until Tuesday when Fulham make the short trip across London just three days after they will have played Crystal Palace. It’s a full fixture list next Tuesday and Wednesday which includes a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. Weirdly, we then go to Everton next weekend and Liverpool go to Fulham.
I don’t know about you guys but I’m quite enjoying all the negative media attention Liverpool are receiving in relation to Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk and Salah. Will they leave as legends or will their reputation become tarnished should all three leave for free? I read that on Sky Sports on one of their fan forums where they discussed Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid for free in the summer. Must be hard for fans to see one of their own run down his contract just as he’s about to hit his “peak years” of his career. Not that I’d be at all surprised to read that he and the other two have signed new Liverpool contracts because we know how agents work in this game.
I don’t think that’s something we Arsenal fans have ever experienced is it? We’ve seen a lot of players run down their contracts and leave for free but I’m pretty sure none have been what I would call top class Arsenal born and bred players. Those with a better memory feel free to correct me.
I’m hoping this will be the last summer we see any first team Arsenal players leave for free, certainly those under 30 years old. Thomas Partey will soon get snapped up in the summer I’m sure as will Jorginho, that’s if they haven’t already agreed a deal elsewhere and both will be a big miss but I certainly won’t be shedding any tears. What’s important this summer is not only signing players but tying down those we have to new longer term contracts. Unless they are going to be moved on of course.
I feel a busy summer looms for Arsenal Football Club.
Catch up in the comments.