Reaction, is the word that’s dominating every fibre of my being.
We must, we have to, we need to, we’ve got to… react in a positive way, to our defeat against Bournemouth.
The Arsenal face Sporting in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final, with a 1-0 lead from the first leg.
We need to secure the semi-final place, whilst ensuring the squad are fresh enough to face Mancheatster City, away in the Premier League.
Sporting are on the back of a 1-0 away win over Estrela Amadora, so I’m sure they’ll be arriving at the Emirates feeling confident.
It’s down to us to turn their confidence into fear, and uncertainty… and I’m sure we will.
The starting lineup was Raya in goal, Hincapie at left-back, Gabriel and Saliba, central… and Mosquera at right-back.
Rice, Eze, and Zubimendi… started in the midfield… and the front 3 was Martinelli on the left, Gyokeres through the middle, and Madueke on the right.
The Arsenal looked determined to assert themselves on the game, in the early stages… and there was a lot more forward passing, than we had seen recently… which filled the Gunners’ faithful, with optimism.
Sporting sat back in their low block, and refused to commit players forward, even though they were 1-0 down from the first leg.
We were patient, and even more so than usual… because the onus wasn’t on us, to go for the Sporting jugular.
Eze was looking sharp, and was trying to make things happen. He was enjoying the freedom he had in the creative department. In the final third though, some of our old habits started to creep in.
We either took too long to cross the ball, or we made the wrong decisions in key areas.
At times the cross didn’t even beat the first man, and other times, we delayed the shot… which made defensive blocks easy for the opposition.
Sporting kept the ball well in patches, but any attacks they could muster, were snuffed out comfortably by our defence.
We showed a level of defensive solidity, that was similar to earlier in the season, when we didn’t even allow teams to have a shot on our goal.
The attack however, failed to build on the foundations of that defensive solidity, and as a result of that… the first half finished 0-0.
We had speculative shots on goal, but their keeper might as well of been unemployed, because we didn’t work him.
That being said, we were now 45 minutes from the Champions League semi-final… and getting there, will no doubt reduce the negative noise, surrounding the club at the moment, and fill the players with confidence.
The second half started, and Sporting remained in their ambition lacking, shin whacking, anti-attacking, defensive shape.
Somebody should’ve informed them that they need a goal. They definitely get points for frustration, but frustration isn’t a currency you can trade in for goals-tender… pun intended.
Arteta was hoping to kill the game off, with his 56th minute substitution… when he took off Gyokeres, and brought on Kai Havertz. The latter had scored the winning goal in Lisbon, so I understood the logic.
In the 63rd minute, Madueke had to go off, due to what looked to be a clash of knees. Max “The Wonderkid” Dowman, replaced him.
The Gunners started to really dominate the game, and Sporting were basically chasing shadows… but still, neither team had done enough to win the game on the night.
Arteta rolled the dice once more in the 79th minute, with the introduction of Jesus, and Trossard, who replaced Eze, and Martinelli.
Unbelievably, Sporting were STILL defending deep! They were protecting a 1-0 deficit! (HAHAHA!) I couldn’t believe it.
Aaaaanywhoooo… there were some half chances, both teams hit the post… but the match finished
0-0.
We did it! The Arsenal made it to the Champions League semi-final, for the second consecutive season… for the first time in our history!! Considering the fact that our form hasn’t been great over the last couple of weeks… it’s an INCREDIBLE achievement.
This was the perfect response to the Bournemouth defeat, and there were standout performances from Zubimendi… who I thought needed a spell on the sidelines, because he looked exhausted. Well, he shut me up! Well done Zubaaah-Zubaaah!
The other standout performers were Declan Rice, Hincapie, and Mosquera. They were exceptional… especially Rice. He put in an assured, colossal, composed, captain’s display… and this settled the rest of the team down.
With the Champions League semi-final place secured (I’ll NEVER get tired of saying that) we can look forward to the City game.
We must win. We will win. We’ll silence negative noise.
At the time of writing this, the sad news has come through that Alex Manninger, the former Arsenal goalkeeper, sadly passed away in a car accident. Condolences go out to his family, friends, and former teammates.
I remember Manninger coming into the Arsenal team after the then No.1 David Seaman, got injured… and he did an incredible job… at just 20 years old. That’s insanely young for a goalkeeper to make a first team appearance, but he didn’t look out of place, AT ALL! He was confident, he was composed, he was brilliant!! Rest well Alex Manninger.
Do you feel we need something totally different against Mancheatster City, and if so, what would you change?
How can The Arsenal cope better with the pressure?
Based on the injuries we’ve sustained this season, do you feel that Arteta could’ve managed the squad better?
Let me know in the comments as usual. COYG!!
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