Morning all.
Here we are then, crunch time, well, round one. Arsenal v Atlético Madrid and Salzburg v Marseille as the four sides do battle for a place in the Europa Cup Final.
So which team is the 888 free bet favourite to lift the big cup in May?
Atlético Madrid (current odds, 11/10)
Atlético have been looming large on horizon the consciousness of most Gunners fans since the knockout rounds began. They have arguably been the most impressive side in the latter stages of the competition, rarely looking under pressure and scoring goals in abundance. Their form has also been excellent in La Liga, albeit everyone is trailing well behind Barcelona this season. They are the team to beat in this competition however..
.Marseille (current odds, 14/1)
Marseille should not be ruled out of the running for the Europa League just yet. They beat a highly regarded RB Leipzig side. However, inconsistency has cost Marseille in their domestic challenge but even so, remain hopeful of finishing in a Champions League place. Win this competition though and they won’t need to worry about that.
Salzburg (current odds, 40/1)
Salzburg surprised many by progressing through to the semifinals after knocking out Lazio. Their two away goals going into the second leg helped their cause and the bookies might now be taking them a little more seriously. They are no fools, just ask Borussia Dortmund who they knocked out before taking the scalp of the Italians.
What we’d give for a repeat of the 4-1 defeat of CSKA at The Emirates in the first leg of the last round eh? Although not conceding a goal tonight is far more important than the last round and even that nearly came back to haunt us in Moscow.
Arsenal probably deserve their tag as second-favourites for this competition and In an ideal world, this fixture tonight would have been the final but I think we stand a chance, albeit slight, over two legs. The masters of defence against a team who on their day, can play quick passing and flowing football. Trouble is, we never know when that day will be or how often. Certainly not on many occasions this season that’s for sure but if Arsene Wenger can muster up three top top performances before he leaves in the summer, then I hope it’s tonight, in the second leg and then again in Lyon next month.
- Diego Simeone is yet to lose an away European match in England as Atletico manager (W1 D2), with one win and a draw against Chelsea and a draw with Leicester City.
- Arsenal have scored 29 goals in the Europa League this season, more than any other side. In only one previous European campaign have the Gunners scored more, netting 30 in 1999-2000 when they competed in both the Champions League and the Uefa Cup.
- Atletico Madrid have scored 15 goals in their six Europa League games this season, giving them the best goals-per-game average in the competition (2.5)
Atlético might be the masters of defending but there’s a lot more to Simeones team than that. In Jan Oblak, they have a top top keeper but ahead of him, there’s an abundance of dangerous players. Griezmann, Costa, Torres, Gameiro to name just a few, are all pretty scary. Costa Is in their squad but whether he’s fully fit or not remains to be seen. With a bit of luck he’s not and doesn’t start. He and Griezmann together we could do without. Both full backs Filipe Luis and Juanfran are reported to be out injured.
We’ve a few missing too. Aubameyang because of the stupid European rule, Elneny and Mkhitaryan through injury but I think that’s it other than Cazorla.
Arsene Wenger has said Atlético have no weaknesses but they must do. Every team has a weakness somewhere and if the Frenchman looks hard enough, hopefully he’d have found one or two by the time 8:05pm tonight comes around. Goodness knows how he’ll approach the game but I’d imagine he’ll want us to get out of the blocks fast and get at them. Put their defence under pressure and try to get an early goal. Backwards and sideways passing won’t worry Atlético, in fact they’ll love it I’m sure.
The players should be up for the challenge tonight as it’s the only thing left to fight for. They don’t perform well against the so called lesser sides, so I hope they can turn it on against one of the big teams.
It’s going to be tough, but then aren’t they all….?
I always wanted Atletico in the final where they would have to be a bit more adventurous. Our style flounders on tight defences and over two legs will be more difficult. Hope for a win with a clean sheet.
Clean sheet is vital I think, even a 0-0 is better than conceding although how our defending will keep their attacking players quiet I really don’t know..
Ten men behind the ball with the ghost of George Graham organising them.
Wenger will play ten up front trying to score…
Morning all.
IT is a little known fact that Arsenal have a rock ‘n roll combo at the back. They’ve named themselves ,The 4 Collanders + 2 Sieves’ good name eh?
If we keep a clean sheet tonight it will be the result of a minor miracle! Can’t see that happening. It will be about how many we ship, and how many we can score!
Hopefully we will take a lead to Madrid, the bigger the better. Despite our leaky defence I can see us winning. The crucial thing will be by how many!
It’s dry here, just mow. I’m off to mow my over long lawn before the wet stuff drops from the sky, again!
Sorry, 3+2 not Unit 4+2! Concrete and clay, if I remember rightly!
Afternoon all and thank you Rico.
Am I the only one who finds this semi more exciting than The Carabao Cup Final ?
Love to see the place rocking tonight to lift the team.
I can see Rico and Lee singing this in a HH duet !
😆
http://www.talkingbaws.com/2018/04/video-arsenal-fan-sings-teary-james-blunt-inspired-farewell-arsene-wenger/
My garden needs mowing again after only just cruising on my ride-on a little while back…………………….bloody sunshine !
🙂
There’ll be no singing or tears from me Lc.
Afternoon guys, I think tonight and the away leg are more important than the League Cup..
Wembley stadium could be sold then, odd…
That’ll be the squatters rico !
Ha ha Micko.
Ospina, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Xhaka, Wilshere, Ramsey, Welbeck, Ozil, Lacazette
Subs: Cech, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Chambers, Kolasinac, Iwobi, Nketiah
I’d luv to think we’re up for the fight but………….
Started quick with diagonal crossfield passes but slowed down and gave them time to get organised. Got to up the pace again.
could you imagine this the other way around, us down to 10 trying hold off Atletico… lol…
all we have from the bench is iwobi.. ffs
Oh god, been here so often before. So many missed chances to score, then run out of steam and the other team get back in it. They are a handful though, going down like they’ve been pole axed every time an Arsenal player gets near them.
Well, second half, but I’m not confident now. They had their purple patch in the first half and couldn’t score.
Kel, I’m with you there, Iwobi could definately be the difference from the bench tonite, just not in our favour lol.
Always the same!
no subs?
After Much dominance, we ended up conceding
Weak bench, how we so short? We knew Aub couldn’t play in Europa. Oh yes, we were concentrating on the league! Again so predictable, and Koscielny brushed aside with ease. What’s new?
Don’t miss Welbeck’s part in the goal .No left foot cuts in and loses it. No left foot,all he had to do was push it to the corner but goes inside falls over . Long ball up field and get done on the break AGAIN
Koscielny and mustafi have been doing it in turns. .12/3 to mustafi so far!
well that’s it over and done with now, no fairy tale send off for wenger…
yet again inability to defend.. ?
utd to thump us on Sunday no doubt.
I’m hiding on Sunday Kel!
Morinho will make sure AW gets the sending off he deserves ..make no mistake about that..
I am really gutted. .we weren’t clinical enough, yes they parked a double decker bus and oblak was outstanding as usual..
I thought attacking play was very slow and predictable..
Ozil was disappointing and ramsey didnt have his lucky underpants on..
One ball over the top and we conceded..
depressing stuff. .
deja vu ..
I absolutely hate to wish time away.. but right now I can’t wait until this is all over.
Sunday should be a tanking, as we very rarely show up at OT..
3 or 4 on Sunday imo
next Thursday Atletico with 11 men will put us in our place I’ve no doubt about that…
a sad ending for Wenger but yet again it all boils down to a squad that lacks defensive quality and discipline and has done so for a decade.
Don’t worry about manure, I’ve heard ole Arsene has re signed Wiltord for one match only! We will win 1-0 again!
Tonight same old, same old. One over the top and we’re done. Same old, same old!
Morning guys.
New post up.