Our third cup competition fixture in-a-row, and this is probably the most important one, as far as the cups go. It’s the one that’s eluded us, after all. The one that gets thrown in our faces, by fans of the teams that have won the competition. They cruelly point to the space in our trophy cabinet, yet to be filled.
Yes, you guessed it… It’s the trophy with the big ears… the Champions League.
It’d be amazing to see one of the Arsenal captains, hold this trophy aloft, and the squad to etch their names into Arsenal’s history… immortalised in glory, and gratification.
Our opponents are Sporting CP, and we play away at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Sporting have won their last 17 home games in-a-row, scoring a plethora of goals in the process, and they’ve beaten everyone whose visited their ground in the Champions League, including PSG.
This was always going to be a difficult game, but even more so now, as The Arsenal are on the back of two consecutive defeats.
However, the Champions League is the one competition where we’ve been almost perfect this season. We’ve won the most games, scored the most goals, and have conceded the least. We need that form to continue.
Mikel Arteta welcomed back most of the first 11 for this match.
Raya started in goal, Calafiori at left-back, Gabriel thankfully shook of the injury he sustained at Southampton, and partnered Saliba in central defence… and Ben White continued at right-back.
In the midfield, it was the familiar trio of Rice, Zubimendi, and Odegaard.
The front three was Trossard on the left, Gyokerers through the middle, and Madueke on the right.
Sporting started the game quicker than we did, and Raya was called into action in the opening 10 minutes, after a simple ball over the top, caused problems.
A fierce shot was struck, but David Raya acrobatically made a fingertip save, and diverted the shot onto the crossbar. It was magnificent goalkeeping!
After that, Sporting spent most of their time sitting in a low block… hoping to catch us on the break.
We struggled to break them down, as we have done against low blocks, many times this season.
It looked as though the last 2 defeats were playing on our minds, as we wouldn’t gamble… we played everything a little too safe, and as a result of that… we lacked movement in the attacking sense. This made it difficult for players like Odegaard to hit dangerous passes, as nobody would make runs into the attacking areas.
We seemed to be overthinking the simple things, as Madueke had the beating of the fullback most of the time, but he wouldn’t cross the ball. He’d pass it inside, or take too many extra touches. So the players who made runs into the box, became null, and void… especially Gyokeres.
This was pretty much the theme of the first half, and because Sporting flat out refused to abandon their defensive shape, even for a moment… and us lacking movement, and not moving the ball quick enough… it didn’t make for a good footballing spectacle.
To be honest, I didn’t care about that though… this was just a MUST NOT LOSE game, how we played was less important to me.
The first half finished 0-0, and yes there were some half chances, for both sides… but the 0-0 scoreline was a fair reflection, of a frustrating game.
In the second half, as legs began to tire, spaces started to open up for both teams. There was more cohesion in the team though, and The Arsenal were defending in unison, as we were earlier in the season… so we dealt with any threat that sporting presented, quite comfortably.
David Raya had to make a couple more saves to keep us in the game, and he’s doing this so regularly now, that his greatness is unfairly being overlooked. For me, David Raya has been the best keeper in the world for the last 2-3 seasons… and I don’t care how controversial that statement may appear to others, because it’s the undeniable TRUTH to me!
In the 63rd minute, Zubimendi put the ball in the net, with a great strike from outside the box… but it was ruled out, because Gyokeres was in an offside position.
I started to fear the worst, as we hadn’t done enough to win the game, but we also didn’t deserve to lose it… and they’re the games we usually end up losing… after being hit with the proverbial “Sucker-punch”.
Kai Havertz replaced Martin Odegaard in the 70th minute, and Martinelli came on for Trossard in the 76th minute, with Max Dowman replacing Noni Madueke.
I felt they were good substitutions from Arteta, but I also felt that he made them slightly too late.
We were controlling the game, but still couldn’t find a breakthrough. There were fouls breaking up the play, and a lot of side-to-side passing, that rarely led to a chance on goal.
I had resigned myself to the fact that it’d be a 0-0 draw, and we’d take ’em back to the Emirates, and finish the job. Martinelli, and Havertz, had different ideas… and in the 91st minute… Euphoria!!
Martinelli picked up the ball on the left, he cut inside, beat his man, and then played a sumptuous ball over the top to Kai Havertz… who had timed his run to perfection. Havertz controlled the ball instantly, with a delectable first touch… and he calmly slotted ball home. It was just the type of composed finish, that the situation warranted. 1-0 to The Arsenal!!
It finished 1-0, and the Gunners had turned a draw, to a win, right at the death. We showed great mental strength, and resilience, to win this game… and although there’s still work to do, it takes us a step closer to the semi-final. An excellent result, that’ll take us into the Premier League game against Bournemouth, feeling confident.
Was the performance, more important than the result?
Ben White has received A LOT of negative attention of late, are you concerned about his form?
Do you think David Raya is criminally underrated?
Let me know in the comments as usual. COYG!!
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