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.
TRVL
It isn’t and after watching Zubi last week I think Partey is at least on par with Zubi.
Wasn’t that impressed with Nico Williams last week either. Have watched him twice in recent weeks and just see tricks but not much else.
He needs quick ball so will be a bit Pepe like with MA snail football tactics. Receiving the ball when doubled up on out by the line.
Why does Rice take set pieces?
Another poor corner from Rice.
Why can’t we be quicker playing against this poor and slow Chavs side? We just need to go up a gear and we’ll score more. Chavs are 2nd best all over the park.
Finally, Ethan gets minutes let’s hope we play through him and not the lumbering Roce
Junior just said he wants Mart’s at 9. Ethan and Ode centrally as AMs with Trossard left and White right wings.
Tony—Zubi adds absolutely nothing up top, which would be fine if it allowed us to deploy two AMs, but not if Rice is still one of them…it’s tricky to properly evaluate Nico because he plays on such a shite side, which means he’s the main focus for all opposing defences…I would think he’s actually better than his League form and slightly less than what we’ve seen at the international level…I do like him opposite of Saka if we get someone of consequence up top, as both will see some iso opportunities…the real questions still involve our transfer dealings of two summers ago, in that if Havertz and Rice are untouchables, positionally-speaking, not sure we’ll ever get things right
A set piece going to save us again looks like.
Hope Berta can see what we do and makes changes wit MA’s same shit different day boring football tactics
TRVL
Really hard to disagree with that.
On the bright side the Spuddies are losing 2 nil to Fulham.
At least a win but we were poor all over the park as we normally are unless we are playing a PSV type team.
Spuds losing to Fulham, so something to be happy about.
I can’t fucking believe I got up early for that amateur hour affair…no one should get a fucking paycheque on this day, minus maybe the ref, who tbf wasn’t at his best either
Beat me to it Marc
Tony—Berta probably liked what he saw there, as that’s the kind of scoreline a former Atleti man might favour
the match highlights came on Dazn and the screen went fucking blank…how fitting
Come on Newcastle.
Yup Marc Howay the Geordie lads
The Barca AM game tonight looks interesting
The bar codes look up for it more than Pool who have had 67% possession and sore shots on goal with Newcastle’s 7 on target.
Good for the neutral if there is one?
Get in
Newcastle one up
Slot’s losing his edge a bit…I always knew it was going to be a difficult run-up unless they signed a few of their veteran players during the season, but to make matters worse he’s getting his tactics wrong too often…this small lineup of theirs is getting bullied off the ball far too often…very surprised that Gakpo didn’t start…maybe he’s still on a minutes restriction since returning from injury…the only positive tactical decision by Slot today has involved Pool’s backers, especially Robertson, dropping into the middle to help with Isak…the fact that MacAllistar has been man marking Burn for set pieces is mindboggling
Take that scouse cunts
that’s high precentage finishing for you…Havertz might have done likewise on 2 of 10 tries
Now imagine supporting a team who had a good manager who being within a couple points of Liverpool in the league and seeing Liverpool crash out of Europe and lose a Cup final with days would smile and turn the screw.
TRVL
2 out of 10?
More like 2 out of 200!
Two up with Pool not at the races. Out of Europe and now losing 2:0 could their title challenge unravel?
Asking for a friend…..
I have no horse in this race, I just want to see whomever is the better side today winning…so far it’s hardly a contest on who that is
Tony
“could their title challenge unravel?”
Unfortunately not you’d need a team who wasn’t managed by a serial bottle job to achieve that.
Very much looking like the old clichy of “next goal wins this”.
the Salah conundrum has reared it’s ugly head over the last month…you can’t take him off yet you can’t afford to have him on the pitch when he’s doing fuck-all…not to mention, they’ve really missed TAA tonight…good on Castle and Howe for taking the game to a side that had clearly lost some confidence against PSG