Morning all.
There’s Fergie time and now there’s Guardiola time. 6 minutes of added time last night turned into 9. City equalised in that 9th minute! Having gone from 1-0 down to 3-1 up, David Moyes would have every right to be cheesed off with the time keeping just as we were when John Stones scored after the allotted additional time was up a season or two ago. The common denominator – Michael Oliver!
But you know what, we might just get to the end of the season feeling the need to send thank you cards to Everton FC. West Ham, fighting for Premier League survival will be a tough tough challenge this weekend.
Tonight though, thoughts of the Premier League have to be put to one side as a place in the Champions League Final is up for grabs.
Mikel Arteta:
I can’t wait. I mean, I feel the energy in and amongst the team, our supporters, so these are the moments that we want to live together.
“We had a lot of work as a club, as a team, after 20 years to be in this position again, and we are so hungry to get a game that we want tomorrow and go through to the final.
“Huge excitement, really hungry. It’s difficult to express the desire to live that moment, especially with our people in front of them, they’ve been waiting for so long to have these kinds of nights. Push hard tomorrow, because it’s something amazing that’s going to happen.
I’m not keen on Arteta making such bold statements. Something amazing might happen but so might heartbreak. Feet on the ground, respect Atletico but go out there without fear but play with freedom. Ride whatever nerves might be jangling inside and then enjoy the challenge. Rise to it and win the game. Easy eh…
Mikel Arteta that Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz will be included in the tonight’s squad but Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino remain sidelined.
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:
Not too many head coaches at the highest level use a 4-4-2, but it’s a shape which suits Diego Simeone’s industrious side very well. During the first half last week, they were relatively circumspect out of possession, but after the break that strategy changed dramatically as they got touch-tight all over the pitch, pressing us with ferocious intensity.
Atletico are highly dangerous on transitions, and no team in this season’s Champions League has netted more goals from fast breaks (7). The Spaniards are fit and physically strong, so athleticism plays a key role in their success. Boasting a great appetite to disrupt opponents, none of the 36 sides in the competition has won more duels, tackles or interceptions.
Alvarez is a brilliant all-round striker, capable of winning any match with a moment of magic, while his corners and free-kicks are also of the very highest standard, helping Atleti score the highest number of set-piece goals (10) in this season’s competition, as well as net in all 15 European outings this term.
On the flip side, they have faced 202 shots in those matches, so there is a sense that you will get opportunities to score against them. Defending set pieces has been problematic, and after letting in nine goals from corners and wide free-kicks, they may be apprehensive whenever we stand over a dead ball.
German referee Daniel Siebert will on duty for this game, the same ref who officiated our 1-0 win over Sporting Lisbon. In the eight Champions League games he’s refereed this season, he has issued 38 yellow cards, two reds and awarded one penalty. Hopefully he and his fellow countrymen officiating this game are better than the muppets in the first leg who failed to send off David Hancko for a “last man” foul and overturned a penalty against the rules.
Many Atletico players will be well rested after having the weekend off, Arsenal however played on Saturday although it has to be said, it turned out to be what I’d call a kind opponent in Fulham. No bad challenges, they didn’t really push us too hard and Mikel Arteta was able to make changes. Regardless, there should be an extra spring in their step today because of last nights result on Merseyside.
This is our second attempt at reaching a Champions League Final under Mikel Arteta so let’s breach the third time lucky saying by beating Atletico tonight…
Catch up in the comments.
I was hoping that you would have printed that picture of Donnarumma on his knees in front of Oliver saying haven’t we paid you enough ?
But that’s last night and tonight is a different thing altogether.
I think we can take them if we go at them early , if we wait they can settle in for extra time and penalties.
Simeone is an arse but he knows how to play the games with the officials and it’s down to us in the crowd to wind him up. Following the cold shower spat he will be on edge , wind him up and get him to lose his cool and it increases our chances.
So in the words of the famous old song , Clock end , North bank do your job .
Good day fellow Gooners, what an incredible Bank Holiday weekend 😂
I wonder if Cherki is still doing his keepy-uppies…
A special mention for Victor Gyokeres – who we all acknowledge is technically limited – he has stepped up big time, and his goals are driving us to a PL title.
It has to be said the PL season hasn’t been a vintage one of free-flowing expressive football, it’s mostly been low-blocks (old school defending deep), and fine margin set-pieces (not just Arsenal), but it is an environment in which Gyokeres has grown into his role and thrived.
We obviously need better to play at a higher level, but if Arsenal win the PL, Gyokeres has contributed massively and has fully earned his winners medal.
One game at a time, but if we beat Atletico tonight our second CL final awaits, a one-off game where anything can happen.
Well done Everton, should have won it, but after a dreadful first half they really took the fight to City. And after the shocker from Guehi, I’m wondering if he’s a secret Gooner too.
Getting quite exciting isn’t it…
That ok Potter?
A result we could have only hoped for Bb but you’re right and perhaps that’s why we should cut some slack to the players. Facing a low block most weeks must be as boring for them as it is us. Not to totally absolve them from shoddy finishing though because we had opportunities to put this league title to bed although City probably think the same.
We’ve been handed another chance, the last I feel we’ll get so hope we can take it.
Re Gyokeres, I really like him and appreciate what he can and will do when he gets the ball. 20 goals is a good return in his first season imo.
“2nd try”
I thought you might have printed that picture of Donnarumma pleading with Oliver probably saying ” haven’t we paid you enough ”
Tonight however is different, Already Simeone has complained about noise outside their hotel , he is on edge the crowd needs to get at him and make him lose his cool .If he flips the chances are that the team goes with him.
This will be down to the team starting quickly and and intensify the pressure that a noisy crowd can create .
As the old song goes Clock end , North bank do your job.
Your comment came up first time…
Love the picture of Donnarumma, but we still need City to drop more points, another draw would be perfect.
Brentford are a funny lot, sometimes they’re as stubborn as a mule on other occasions they roll over, I think they have the forwards to cause City some problems. Of course being at Wastelands there will probably be a few quid tucked into the officials boots so it’s likely we’ll see copious added time if City need to score and VAR scattered over anything the Bees do positively.
Happy Birthday Rick, btw, glad to see you still popping onto HH, I miss our chats about the academy and future rising stars.
Brentford are going for a European spot, hopefully that will focus their minds.
afternoon all, Rico my comments show up once then go walk about
I can see your comment Geoff.
Ero Rico, Supa oleng’? It’s my hope tonight is the night we finally make a statement in Europe and a Big statement innit, in the context of how important this game is to us. I mean, let’s get done with them in the first half just like the Fulham game and rest some of our key players that are surely going to be crucial in the run in against West Ham at the weekend. I can’t wait to see the new tifo being unveiled and it should help to fire up the players and those of us watching the game in the south of the savanna in a fully parked Beyond Soccer Arena with rival fans eagerly waiting for us to slip up so that they can make our way back home a living hell. It’s up to the lads to make history and keep the Dream alive! KEEP CALM AND LOVE THE JOURNEY.
Hi Maasai.
i think we’ve been making a statement all through this competition by going unbeaten. But yes, I think tonight is huge.
Good antipodean morning Rico and all. North Bank Kiwi up with the birds ready to our job. COYG.
Arsenal starting XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Eze, Trossard, Saka, Gyokeres
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Mosquera, Hincapie, Odegaard, Jesus, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Havertz, Zubimendi, Dowman
Good evening Rico and all
good post and a picture which I really like. quite amusing and dare I say very close to reality which I have banged the drum for quite a long time.
SNA…..good to see MLS in the line up from the beginning. He is not there to rest Zubimendi if he begins a game of such magnitude. He is there on merit and I feel to stake his claim for that position. Zubimendi needs to rest and recharge.
Maybe we have misinterpreted Arteta over MLS. Arteta knew that he had Hincapie and Calafiori as LB. MLS was emergency. So he got him to stay as a sub and all the while observe and learn from Zubimendi, Rice and Norgaard.
It might be the above theory and it might not. Only time will tell. But as Rico pointed out, MLS is there to stake his claim.
Fingers crossed, yesterday’s result will give the boys an added impetus for tonight. They know that now they hold the upper hand again. And this will give them added motivation for tonight. We wait and see.
Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori M L S, Rice, Saka, Eze, Trossard, Gyokeres.
5 of the first 11 playing tonight are English. If Madueke and Dowman come on all the English players would have played tonight.
I dont support England on the international stage but am proud of the fact that English players are on the increase at our club.
Evening Devil, Stuart, guys.
Brave call to start MLS, I like it…
Very daring, unusual, attacking setup for Atleti
3-3-3-1
Alvarez
Lookman-Griezmann-Simeone
Ruggeri-Koke-Llorente
Hancko-Le Normand-Pubill
Oblak
Diego hasn’t come to sit back, a great game it should be.
Huge show of confidence from Mikel to Myles, hats off to the gaffer for it. C’mon boyo, prove him right (I know you will!)
COYG
Get in!!
Saka scores a goal at the perfect time….just before the whistle blows for HT. If we manage to score another when we begin the 2nd half that would kill them off for sure
Brilliant from Gyokeres…
Admirably mature performance … again. What a great goal, and what a moment to score it.
No ET now, lads, please, and a perfect night it’ll be.
COYG
45 mins, what a time to score a goal! Well deserved for all the hard work our boys are putting in. Saka with a tap in after a fine period of pressure.
Aggregate 2 – 1 at half-time.
Quick as a flash, Saka. It was what was needed against that disciplined and quality deep block Athleti employ. Some real composure from Trossard to pick the moment for his shot. They’ll have to come out now. Advantage Arsenal.
Gyokeres seems to have gained an extra yard of pace and certainly greater strength holding the ball up well. Trossard well out of his slump, let’s do this Gunners!
Wonder if we’ll see Hincapie on for Calafiori soon, sure us up down our left.
All that training he’s been doing at home Andrew. 😝
I could read Arteta’s mind. Lol
Omg, what a chance.
Brilliant, just brilliant…
Well done…
One goal, clean sheet, we’re on our way to Budapest!!!!! 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔
Night guys, sleep well… 😂
Joy unrestrained. Great scenes. See ya’all in Budapeste…
My son there, amazing atmosphere. We have players coming back at such an important time, and players raising their form. 5 days rest now before the tricky one, what makes me think a ref will stop us with a red card in one of the last three?
I’m still buzzing but I’ve gotta go to bed soon, been catching up and the chat has been amazing, so many happy Gooners out there, even those who are not exactly enamoured by Mikel.
Simeone was surprisingly gracious in defeat, I certainly didn’t expect that, but a bit of payback for 2018 and that annoying Griezmann jig.
Now all we need is to get those 3 points at the Olympic Stadium and wait for City to slip up some more as I suspect they will…
There’s a 67,215 capacity in the Puskás Arena in Budapest and of that number Arsenal get an allocation of 16,824. Double that up and the clubs are getting 33,648 tickets between them, that’s around 34,000 tickets for UEFA to distribute among all their hangers-on and general ponces whilst a shed load will end up in the hands of touts.
I went to Paris in 2006, didn’t get in and swore that I’d never go again, UEFA can fcuk right off…
Test
Morning all
new post up