Hello and how are you? Tuesday the 21st of October sees the Mighty Cannon take on Club Atlético de Madrid at Ashburton Grove in our next CL game. Kick off is at 21.00pm central European time (8.00pm UK time). Expected weather is 14°(feels like 10°) and 6% chance of rain.
After coming out on top after a tough rut with Fulham last Saturday (who themselves confessed that we are very difficult to break down) we now have a quick turn around and take Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League. Atlético are currently 4th in La Liga: P 9 W4 D 4 L 1 F 16 A 10. There’s mixed views on this current Simeone version of Atlético, some say (who?) they like to park the bus and can be really sterile, others not, but having watched them a bit, they can be deadly at confusing defences and making a quick pass that will cut a defence open. That’s about all I can give you, perhaps anyone whose seen more can comment? From what I saw (and this is just a few highlights), as deadly as they can be, they look very beatable. But they have scored in every game played so far and thrashed Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in the CL back on September 30th.
A win for us would put us on a six game winning streak.
Head to head we are W 0 D 1 L1 and that was back in the semi-final of the EL 2017, Arsène’s last bit for Euro glory. Griezmann remains a danger man as he was all those years ago. Grrr!
I’m not sure Simeone is still the manager he was, I recall some hefty arguments on Untold Arsenal some years ago now with people (smart arses) who hated Arsène and wanted Diego in, touted as usual as some sort of panacea to Arsenal ‘problems’ -looking back what could he have done without funds? He is the second longest serving manager (2011) in European football. His managerial statistics are: P 957 W 443 D 219 L 141 W% 59.7 His overall percentage win rate is 53.62%.
We are fifth in the CL table (one of six other teams with the same points and only separated by goal difference), and the Rojiblancos are in tenth. We haven’t conceded a goal in 11 CL games at the Emirates.If this ones a victory it will be our 100th in the competition.
Injury wise its the same knees-up MB problem as it was against Fulham. Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice will miss the next match ( Slavia Prague on the 4th of November) if they get booked, which might see some squad shuffling for us? Johnny Cordoso (ankle) is the only doubt for Atlético. Hincapie is stated to be available.
Our chums at Statto HQ snail- mailed me to state that Arsenal have a 59.1 probability of winning and Atlético 17.3%. Next up Crystal Palace on Sunday. COYG!
Mills
I wish I could tell you that I’m excited by this clash of two almost titans but in my mind I vision it like trench warfare with neither general prepared to blow his whistle and order an attack. So such is my football expertise that it likely will turn out as a ding-dong goal fest.
I have to admit the format of this competition is somewhat beyond me because it feels like we would be hard pushed to not qualify for the next round. The league style seems to suit us well. I see us going a long way.
Anyway, enough waffle ,enjoy the game and fingers crossed that we make it through this battle without and casualties.
Pedantic George.