Well, that sort of aggregate takes away the fun from a game but it’s a good thing for us Gooners. We are in a 6 goal lead and playing at home. In the first leg, six of our players scored, Martin Odegaard twice and made sure we qualify for the quarter finals without worrying about the 2nd leg.
Martinelli is back in the fold after getting some minutes against Manchester United. Saka, Jesus, Havertz, Tomiyasu remains unavailable. Not much to talk about the game knowing that we are going to play either Atletico or Madrid in the quarter finals. Since we don’t have a fit CF to play, I would suggest that we put Martinelli back in the middle with Nwaneri and Trossard on either side but I know it’s not going to happen in this lifetime.
Rice and Partey should get some rest. Not much here but a lot to discuss about other things, lets go.
So, we failed to score against Forest, scored 7 against PSV and then saw a Declan Rice’s brilliant goal against United which led to us sharing points with our rivals; which brings me to the conclusion that we were lucky and luck runs out at some point. Still remember Mikel Merino’s 2 goals in his first game as CF? Well, he has failed since, and the 7 goals against PSV was an exception, not the norm. We will still struggle to score, after seeing the Liverpool v PSG games, you know how tough the Champions League run is going to be.
But hey, the club is trying to fix this infatuation of defence by bringing Andrea Berta as the new Sporting Director. I have no idea how successful Berta would be at Arsenal but there’s 2 things about him that excites me. First, he has worked with Simeone who enjoys a similar freedom to Arteta. One or the other won but that’s okay, I don’t want to see another YES man around the manager. Second, he was responsible for bringing in Griezmann, Oblak, Rodri to Atletico when they were little known. That’s a good CV for me. During Wenger years, I would have never thought that I would want my manager to forget about defence and invest in attack. What a turnaround.
PSG was brilliant last night. And in the first leg when they were unlucky to convert their chances. Arne Slot blaming it on the Champions League format because they got to play PSG even after finishing top in the group stages was funny. What did he expect? Enrique has done some good work with the Paris team and getting rid of Messi, Mbappe and Neymar has let others play with more freedom. I think they are going to be a very tough competition for any team who is chasing the Cup.
We have got Barcelona, Inter, Bayern and PSG qualified for the Quarters. Aston Villa and Arsenal will do today. One of the LOSC and Dortmund for the 7th place. Madrid will play against Atletico with a 2-1 aggregate and there won’t be any surprises I am guessing.
That’s a good bunch of teams. Next round will be spicy and the fact that we will play one of Atletico or Madrid in the quarters makes it even more interesting.
Saliba in the press conference before the second leg, said he wants to stay and win trophies with Arsenal. He is not bothered with the fact that his contract is expiring in 2 years and he will not leave before winning something. Big up for the lad. What it also means is that, he has got 2 years to give his everything and see the ambition of the club for winning trophies. If we do, he will stay. If not, he will re-evaluate his options. In modern football, no one is playing for a club because of their loyalty towards it (except may be Jamie Vardy). It’s either money or the ambition to win trophies. Arteta could very well be in his 67th phase but he has only two years to make them stay.
I think the club knows this, and I think that’s why we are seeing Berta being brought on. The club might have seen the money thrown away at the defence while we keep losing because no one can score a bloody goal.
Right, that’s it for today. See you during the game.
Hoopah
Nice one mate. Those books were cool weren’t they?
Me too KP Ode needs runners with footballing brains.
Hi Tony
Agreed, and preferably someone who also has the physical strength and two pointy elbows to hold off central defenders and just create enough space to shoot in and around the 6 yard box. A Harry Kane if you will, without the lisping and the endless bullshit!
Sorry for leaving you all on tenterhooks about that game I watched yesterday…
S’Arenal won 2-1! Great little ground, game wasn’t the best though. Free entry and very cheap beer. Perfecto!
The Chavs game coming up soon with Forest just a point behind us, with our Chavs game in hand making it a must win to keep 2nd safe.
Who is going to win the £100+M bragging rights: Rice or Caisedo?
We should win being a home game, but I say that most games and we only walk away with a measly point.
Will today be different? I hope so, but hope doesn’t win titles, so I’ll predict my usual score draw.
Should that happen Forest will be 2 pints behind us with 9 games to go…..
Palmer isn’t playing which is a big plus. We should have too much for them. 2-0.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mikel-arteta-arsenal-mikel-biereth-34870486
Problem is ElB is the problem.
Only redeeming feature El B is giving an expensive education to the Kroenkes. Now we are looking to Nico Williams at 67 million
Same selection as usual so no changes to players so I guess same tactics.
Kroenke
Palmer missing is a huge plus – he really is a player I rate and we bought him for Chelsea and gave them £20 million on top for doing so.
Hoopah
El B has tried for him before but he wasn’t interested. Other big clubs are interested.
Good player but hasn’t shone in recent club games I’ve watched. Lots of tricks but not much else.
Is his brother better?
Legit claim for a pen off Cucurella
One up.
Good header by Merino.
Looks like set piece change is for the usual culprits to move around and Merino is the target man
It was coming with various scuffed shots. Chavs look disjointed without Palmer.
KP
Your prediction is looming on or a win by 3 perhaps?
Chelsea are leaving a bit on our players if the ref’s could grow a pair its simple to stop.
Fofana did it on purpose. Looks it
well-placed header by Merino…Chelsea look like a team without any direction when Palmer isn’t on the pitch to play through…if Maresca doesn’t figure a way out of their recent malaise he too could be shown the door…it’s kind of a reversal of form from last season when Chelsea looked like this early on but came on in the final months…it still cost Poch his job
TRVL
Until Chelsea get a settled squad of players and then allow a manager some time to shape them / bring in the improvements he needs it doesn’t matter who they put in charge.
this match has had a lot of booth red card checks in the first 25+ minutes…not much of a spectacle thus far, albeit we’ve had by far the better chances
Marc—I agree in theory, but I think whenever you’re quick to fire the manager you have a tendency to side with the players, which can be very problematic whenever you have so much competition for positions
you know things are dire when you’re more boring than us in the build-up
Raya almost cocked that one up
Not a fan of our side without Saka and/or Ethan