Morning all.
The beginning of what is a huge five days for Mikel Arteta and his players as both the Champions League and Premier League hopes are hanging by a thread. A thread nevertheless which is better than having nothing to hang our hopes on.
Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori have been out for what seems like ages now and none of them were spotted training yesterday. Declan Rice didn’t train either. Piero Hincapie and Eberechi Eze did though so hopefully both will be fit enough to start tonight instead of taking a place on the bench. Hopefully the rest will be on the bench instead, even if it’s just so they get minutes at the end of the game.
Sporting are still in this tie that’s for sure but as long as we don’t lose, we’ll go through to the semi-finals. Sporting haven’t faired that well against English opposition in years gone by, winning just two of their last 14 European fixtures however, in the 2022/23 season, Sporting dumped us out of the Europa League on penalties at the first knockout stage.
Despite our recent domestic shambles, Arsenal have a 100% winning record at home in this competition and to be fair, the team have played a lot better in Europe than in England. Sporting have managed just one win on their Champions League travels this year which came after a very late goal against Athletic Club.
Injuries and suspensions:
On Declan Rice, Mikel Arteta said:
”We have to wait and see how he is tomorrow, but obviously he wasn’t available to train. He’s played a lot of games and that’s part of the issue. But he’s going to try to do everything that he possibly can to be with us tomorrow, that’s for sure.”
No poop Sherlock, all of us could have told Arteta that long before now as he’s looked knackered for a while. He’s not the only one either as Martin Zubimendi has look dead in his feet too. Anyway, a late decision is to be made on all our currently walking wounded with Arteta hinting that one might return.
Sporting have doubts over Fresneda who picked up a knock at the weekend, midfielder Simoes missed the game while Fotis Ioannidis, Guilherme and Santos are all ruled out.
Arteta on his overriding emotion at the moment:
“Fire. I’m on fire. That’s it, nothing else. I’m dreaming so much. I’ve done so much to be in this position because I know how this club was. I just see beauty, opportunity and I want to get it done for all these people that have been in this journey with us, and because they deserve it, because it’s been unbelievable. That’s what has driven me every single day – zero fear. Fear I had when: ‘oh, if we don’t get this done, this club, I don’t know what is going to happen.’ That was fear. Now there’s no fear. It’s just purpose, fire, direction and conviction that we’re going to do it.”
On if he sees that fire in the players:
“Yes, big time.”
A fire maybe but more like one which has not long had a bucket of water thrown over it!
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:
Borges uses a standard 4-2-3-1 with left-sided forward Pedro Goncalves [above] drifting infield to leave space for buccaneering left back Maxi Araujo to bomb forward. On the other side, Geny Catamo is an out-and-out winger who works nicely in tandem with supporting full-back Fresneda.
Sporting’s approach is an attacking style of play that often sees them commit six or more players to moves built inside the opposition half. While they are good enough to play through the lines, they are most effective when going from back to front directly, and centre-backs Goncalo Inacio and the excellent Ousmane Diomande can pick out forwards with deep passes.
Viktor Gyokeres’ replacement Luis Suarez has netted 37 times for club and country this season, with five of those strikes coming in the Champions League. Sharp around the box, with good movement and a natural nose for where chances will fall, the 28-year-old works well with attacking midfielder Francisco Trincao, who loves to shoot from outside the box.
They will pose a threat on the counter as only Real Madrid and Liverpool have manufactured more attempts on goal from fast breaks than Sporting, but in the first leg, when we closed them down with intensity inside their half, Borges’ team looked uncomfortable, losing possession in bad areas. It is vital that we hunt in packs and replicate that tactic.
If Arsenal want to have any chance of winning something this season then things have to vastly improve. Arteta has to be smarter and the players need to find more energy from somewhere. We’ll see tonight if the so called fire is burning bright, on Sunday too. Talk is cheap when the walk doesn’t follow.
Catch up later.
We have seen several times this season Arsenal bounce back after letting a good lead diminish to a “pittance”. Hopefully this will be the case once and for all!
I would like to see Rice on the bench tonight just in case he is needed in the second half. I know he is tired but his expertise is very much needed.
My only big criticism regarding Arteta. He did not rotate his team enough throughout the season to get all of his players playing well together and constantly whenever selected/subbed. This leaves me asking the big question of why did they go through much grieve/negotiations for players they wanted just to leave them sitting on the bench so many times . Once again this has come back to bite Arteta in the bum with their now injuries.
Onwards and upwards. Lets get it right tonight and on Sunday.
Good morning Rico.
A fine pre match, thanks.
We need something different in midfield, someone to win the ball not just try to smother the opposition. Someone like Myles Lewis-Skelly for instance?
Morning all, well setup rico. I think MLS AND Cali, would be a shock to opposition and us! But with a holding midfielder behind, they would certainly carry the ball forward well. Far too adventurous for MA to try though.
England under 21’s beat Moldova 4 – 1 last week Nwaneri got two and Lewis Skelly was in midfield.albeit wearing number 3 and the combination for the third goal came from Hale End.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycujUPJhRUs
Perhaps he could combine with Dowman to do something similar.
Calafiori out injured….again!
Afternoon Cicero, all.
I hope Rice isn’t risked if he’s not fully fit. Especially as we have Norgaard and MLS, the later is young, fit and Arsenal through and through, he might not be as effective as Rice but he’d certainly have the energy.
I love Calafiori but he’s too injury prone to keep imo.
Me too, Rico.
My preference is Hincapie anyway Cicero, he’s more like a traditional left back.
Agree Andrew, I very much doubt Arteta would be prepared to step out of his usual setup box. Heck, he seems to have been too afraid to cause a very good DM much over the last eight months.
Everyone here is hopeful about Sporting… It pains me to hear them. They’re very confident because Arsenal is an ordinary team. Southampton will go straight up. Arsenal gave them a helping hand. Perhaps a possible victory today would be an advantage for Sunday.
I’m looking forward to the game- I think maybe the players feel less pressure in the Champions league,although it’s last chance saloon time now.
I was very impressed with Sporting in the first leg,interesting that last night’s games were won by the teams who won the first leg,I’d settle for that carrying on tonight.
It’s pretty likely the team will be different from Saturday. Hincape at left back for me,I’d love to see MLS in midfield.
COYG
Morning gentle persons: Arsenal XI: Raya, Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Martinelli, Madueke, Gyokeres
Subs: Setford, Arrizabalaga, White, Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Havertz, Dudziak, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Salmon
A post from LG…
Our 4-2-3-1 with two wingers chained to their touchlines and given the responsibility to dribble their way past 2-3 defenders in order to create the kind of situations which our listless, predictable, never-ending passing around the box never does, while our 2 midfielders keep being outnumbered, has reached a point where our opponents see us coming with smiles on their faces – the worst thing about Saturday imo, was how relaxed, happy-go-lucky the “Cherries“ looked as they tore us apart without breaking a sweat.
I know perfectly well it won’t happen but writing it down anyway will have a semblance of soothing effect on my nerves, so I will inflict my thoughts upon y’all, guys. I’d love Mick to pick a 3-at-the-back which has always seemed to be a perfect fit for The Arsenal (Anfield ’89, FA Cup finals 2017 and … 2020!!, etc.); 3-4-1-2 it’d be (only the “less unfit“ players in there):
Gyökeres-Havertz
Eze
Hincapié-LewisSkelly-Nørgaard-White
Gabriel-Saliba-Mosquera
Raya
This would give Myles and our Dane the support they need to keep them central, and not have to look after the whole width of the pitch; absolute freedom should be given to Eberechi to imagine, create, improvise, take risks, etc. – in the absence of Bukayo, he’s the only such player we’ve got – and our two big targets upfront have all it takes to give even a strong defense something to think about. I keep thinking Kai will come good eventually btw … if given the minutes he needs to bring his tall body back to full fitness.
Hervé
Now I know what Arteta meant about fire 🔥 😀
Yeah ten minutes of fire, but the flame is fading now a bit.
It certainly is
Eze is looking good, just need to get Gyo on his wave length.
Well the plot that we lost last Saturday , were still looking for it .
question , how many forward passes does Zubimendi make ?
Sporting are like us they have a good defence but very little up front.
it’s got 1 nil extra time and penalties written all over it . Just what we need before City.
The halftime analysis from Cole and Kroenke made so much sense. We look for the safe pass instead of going forwards
when jesus comes on , you know he’s run out of ideas
Clean sheet, job done!!
Two more dates for the diary. Well done, lads. I’ll settle for another 0-0 later this week.
I thought similar..
Madueke looked ok at the end so hopefully he’ll be fit for Sunday.
All a bit huff and puff but job done..
0-0 at the Etihad would be fine and dandy for me…
Night guys.
Interesting names on the bench, tells you where we are fitness wise.
Kai Havertz made quite a difference when he came on, maybe it’s time for Kai to lead the line in our remaining games?
Good morning all.
Amid all the journalistic criticism, let’s not forget that Arsenal have not lost a Champions League game this season. We have already played Athletic Madrid twice in the earlier rounds and won both games 2 – 0 and 4 – 0. Those results will play on their minds.
It will indeed. Without the ball Arsenal were immense against Sporting. We are the best defensive team in world football. With the ball, especially going forward we cannot match the likes of Bayern or PSG. If we reach the final, it will have to be a repeat of our ’94 performance v Parma.
Morning Cicero all.
I bet Liverpool, City etc wished they were still in this competition regardless of how they got there.
Over two legs and with a few walking wounded back, I fancy us against Atletico..
New post up.