Anyone still trying to convince themselves that the Premier League is in a good place, full of entertainment, simply had to switch over to Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid on Wednesday night instead of the Arsenal tie.
That's top-level football. Seven goals across 90 minutes between frontlines featuring the best players in the world. Not low blocks and cowardly pragmatism.
Arsenal-Rice-Gyokeres-Zubimendi-Mosquera-Saliba-Gabriel-Martinelli-Madueke-Zubimendi-Raya-Hincapie
For Arsenal fans, it was once again a torturous night, even if they did get over the line against Sporting CP. Comparison is so often the thief of joy, but how could those at the Emirates not even begin to wonder whether a dance with the devil is going to lead to some hellish consequences?
Arsenal's major problem in attack
Set pieces have done well to hide their struggles from open play in the majority of the campaign.
Nicolas Jover's genius has been enough on top of Arsenal's defensive work to take the Gunners' into their clearest title contention yet and a Champions League semi-final. But whether set-piece threat will be enough to get Mikel Arteta's side over the line is another question entirely.
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Against Sporting, the game plan was clear and, to Arteta's credit, it worked out for his side. The Gunners advanced, with a clean sheet intact in a display which rarely featured an attacking moment of intent from the wannabe European champions.
Sporting were limited to just one shot on target on the night, but the same can be said for the hosts. On a night that needed a statement victory ahead of a crucial game against Manchester City this weekend, the Gunners were frustratingly subdued.
Arsenal last 5 games
Wins
Draws
Defeats
Goals conceded
Goals scored
A worrying trend is beginning to form in North London. Ahead of the biggest game of the season in the Premier League, Arsenal are on a run of just one win in their last five games in all competitions. And, more worryingly, the two goals that they've scored in that time have come from a set piece and a penalty.
Gyokeres-Arsenal-Arteta
If Arteta does not unlock a new route to goal ahead of Man City this weekend, then his side will suffer the worst imaginable consequences. The Spaniard must get ruthless and drop one attacking star who's particularly struggling.
Arsenal's new Willian must be dropped
This weekend's game against Man City is no time for passengers. Every player who features for Arsenal must have a purpose, whether it's on or off the ball, and that should see Noni Madueke drop down to the bench, irrespective of the injury he suffered on Wednesday night.
The winger has scored just two Premier League goals all season and will be exposed against the quality of Pep Guardiola's side if he features from the off.
Madueke-Arsenal-Leverkusen
If Bukayo Saka is back to full fitness, then Arteta must risk the England international from the start. The Hale End graduate, despite enduring a poor season, will still play a crucial role out of possession if the Gunners choose to sit in their compact shape and hold out for a point.
PL P90 25/26 Saka Madueke
Minutes 2,001 953
Goals 0.27 0.19
Assists 0.13 0.09
Recoveries 4.72 2.08
Duels Won 7.11 6.33
It's difficult to point out what Madueke offers this Arsenal side. If they're not going to be free-flowing in attack, then he's not the type of player who will produce an unexpected moment of quality. Indeed, against Sporting, he gave away the ball on 17 occasions, had one shot and was inaccurate with all three of his crosses.
Meanwhile, he's been fairly disappointing out of possession this season. It's a lose-lose situation whenever Arteta is forced to call on the former Chelsea man over Saka.
Madueke-Arsenal-Sporting
It follows a recent trend of struggling former Chelsea wingers. Before Madueke, it was Willian who often stole the headlines for all the wrong reasons before Arsenal still decided to spend as much as £52m on a repeat last summer.
Like Madueke, Willian's end product at the Emirates was nothing short of a disaster, scoring only once in 37 appearances.
Sealing a repeat of that situation is arguably the worst business that Andrea Berta completed in his first season at the club and the £52m man should be nowhere near the Man City game.
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