So, we are just a few hours away from the biggest game of the season, so far. The boys truly rocked the Blancos at home, and now comes a test of nerves, tactics and belief. The Galacticos are not used to being outplayed, and in the second half they really and truly were. So their pride is hurt and they do not want to embarrass themselves again at the Bernabeu, that’s for sure.
But Arsenal are a pretty complete team when it comes to playing tactical variants, these days. Gone are the Wenger days of the one-style-needs-to-beat-all. Arteta can play Mourinho-ball, Ferguson-ball and Wenger-ball; he will adept to what gives us optimal outcomes. Sitting back, absorbing, and then pouncing on the rebound/counter is the most likely approach. With Odegaard, Merinho, Rice, Partey, Saka and Martinelli, and fast wing-backs, Arsenal can hurt RM badly, tonight. Our opponents will be weary of this, yet they must attack, attack, attack. The crowd will demand it and the large deficit does not leave them much else to do.
But then Arteta may decided to attack RM from the start and dominate midfield. Of course this is not without danger, as RM have the sort of players who love to run into space with and without the ball. But this could lead to an early goal for us after which we can sit back and absorb pressure. A fourth goal for us over the two ties should normally settle it. However, playing with a high block carries another danger for us: the risk of hauling somebody down and getting a yellow or even a red card. Playing with 10 men with say 70 minutes on the clock would be a nightmare.
I think Arteta and his fellow managers, and the captain, MO, will have a detailed plan that will see different approaches during different phases of the game. Arsenal have a great midfield and RM will truly miss the hard-as-nails (and probably their best midfielder), Camavinga. This is such an opportunity to boss this pivotal area, even at the Bernabeu. Once-Twice-Baby is puffed up with confidence and Martin will have been dreaming of this game ever since he joined us from the Spanish capital. Partey, if indeed fit as is reported, will also want to play his socks off; his friends from Atletico will have jeered him up to no end.
I have high hopes that this will be the night that Odegaard truly announces himself to Europe – the Frenkie De Jong/Modric of Arsenal.
Big games will need to be played by the full backs and their supporting wingers. They will want to get behind our defence from the flanks and the likes of Vinicius, Rodrygo, Mbappe and Bellingham are capable of the the best wing-play in the business. The beauty of Saka and Martinelli is that they are excellent at supporting the defence and then also spring a counter-attack with great close control, energy and thrust. They will get kicked, and I hope the referee understands that they will need protection. A fair referee is of course crucial, and from what the Duke of Normandie has told us I think we should not worry about this part of the game.
This is very likely to be a tense game for 90+ minutes, unless we can put one or two in the net in the first half. Don’t count this out, and I will put my money on Martin netting at his former stomping ground.
I guess our biggest area of attention will have to be our left side of defence. Kiwior and, most likely, MLS will play there, or is Calafiori earmarked for this one? There is no update on him on Arsenal.com… It also seems that Ben White is available again. If fit this would be a great addition to our defence.
Desired (not necessarily predicted) line-up (subject to actual fitness levels):
Raya
White-Saliba-Kiwior-Timber
Partey-Odegaard-Rice
Saka-Merino-Martinelli
It is a real shame that Jorginho is not available for this one, as Arteta could do with the tactical variant(s) he offers. I love MLS but I fear he will be earmarked for a sending off. However, a cameo in the second half could give the team a wonderful boost. Same goes for insomniac Trossard, and yes, Sterling, who has the maturity to finally make a difference for us.
I believe in these boys and as long as they keep cool heads and take one or two of their own chances, I think we will go through.
Ooh to BE.
By TotalArsenal.
Bergkampesque 
Blueprint for tonight?
I watched the game back then, it was an extraordinary performance from the … white-and-red/dressed in black for the occasion
Can our boys match such quality? You bet they do
COYG
Duke, look out for the Meron twins, both not long turned 16, both midfielders, could be catching some headlines next season.
Well, where is everyone?
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Merino.
Subs: Neto, Setford, Tierney, White, Zinchenko, Rosiak, Henry-Francis, Trossard, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Sterling, Nwaneri.
Real Madrid: Courtois, Vazquez, Ascencio, Rudiger, Alaba, Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr, Mbappe.
Subs: Gonzalez, Mestre, F. Garcia, Vallejo, Modric, Ceballos, Guler, Diaz, Endrick.
I’m here but only just. Storms have knocked out all of Northlands power! So, the generator is thankfully up and running. Torrential up here (down here). Can hardly hear my self think with the rain on our tin roof. COYG… And, COYrepair men…
Good luck, Stu. Stay safe, buddy. May the boys warm you up!
Thanks for the highlights, LG. What a game it has been!
Hopefully we will see a similar result or at least a similar qualification to the semi-finals.
Stay safe, Stu. If you saw the first leg, you have seen everything. 🙂
Wow.
I think both decisions were the right ones, but … the b—s on these refs!!
I want a Jérôme Brisard statue some spot between Thierry’s and Arsène’s
VAR these are the days of miracles and wonder. Two decisions our way!!!!
I’ cannot remember Bukuyu ever trying a dink…
Tactically very strong. Surely Modric will come on as they lack penetrattion through the middle.
Hopefully Martin can shake off the nerves and get us a goal or assist. That would settle it. Certainly not over yet.
This is the spirit of our 10v11 50 minutes or so against Cheaty the start of the season … these wonderful boys of ours are turning into Giants by the minute.
So hard to breathe I might as well be watching this from the top of the Everest.
C’mon, lads, this is your night!
(Here’s to you, Stu – and … stay safe, mate:
Blimey, what a 52 minutes of an emotional rollercoaster.
I reckon that Rosiak will come on and score the winner.
Creedence’s “Who’ll stop the rain” it was
Well … never mind
I just wish we showed a tad more composure during turnovers, because we’ve wasted a few really good opportunities with loose passing and control, notwithstanding the penalty of course…
Agreed, Kev. COYRRGS
Agreed, Kev. COYRRGS
Courtois finally got his chip over his shoulder …
YEAH!!!!
(clean sheet now, boys, please – you deserve it so much)
F..k
The audacity to chip the big Belgium.
“To run out of words” was coined on a night like this …
How I wish we could Guinness this one away together, mates
I’m in love with a French VAR star…
Bukuyu can dink any time he wants.
Thomas was enormous. 100% pass success. Such a shame about the card. We never got a replay of why. Can anyone enlighten me?
Declan has the elan.
My second favourite Creedence song, Duke. Second only to this one…
“It’s been coming for some time…”
“By George, she’s got it…”
Wonderful just wonderful. So happy for Saka and Martinelli scoring those iconic goals. Declan was gigantic, but the entire team played 10+ tonight.
They closed the roof
We blew it off
You want some proof
We are the toffs?
Those Madrid royals
Must bow their knee
To the mighty Arsenal
The Kings of Spain from Highbury.
Great night, great win!! Never in doubt, eh?
Still buzzing for this football club. We deserve some success.
They can now open that roof ; the Arsenal are done cooking.
Football eh?
Torment interspersed with feelings of total elation, it’s like a drug, you can’t get enough of it and even when you think you’re over it it still has you in its clutches.
I didn’t relax until Martinelli scored and then I actually wanted Arteta to give a debut to one of the boys, a kind of back-hander to Madrid, rub their noses in it by sending on Gower or Rosiak, anyway it was arguably one of the most impressive performances by an Arsenal team in Europe since we beat Ajax 3-0 in 1969.
Even our Cup Winners Cup success in 1994 doesn’t come close as that was Arsenal defending for 85 minutes, this was tactical domination over 180 minutes, the total evisceration of the Champions of Europe. It reminded me of the Arsenal winning run to the FACup in 2019, nobody gave us a prayer yet the team and coaching staff found the answer every time they faced improbable odds.
No strikers, no problem, no Gabriel, no problem, no Califiori, no problem, no Partey next time out, no problem…
Huge credit must go to the referee and VAR, both refused to succumb to the pressure, to succumb to the hosts and their gravitas for without them we may have struggled, with them we got what we deserved, a stark lesson in competence, honesty and integrity sadly absent from PGMOL and another crystal clear example of why foreign referees are badly needed in the Premier League.
A special mention for Jakob Kiwior, he was immense, all the others were heroic and Declan Rice, what can I say, he is bestriding this years CL like a giant…
(About the Meron Bros) … I will, Kev.
Jeorge B. is a man of very few, understated, words when it comes to praising our Young Guns. “Highly-rated” is to be read as “genuine gems” … I think the kids have a game at noon today, but I’m too drained, I won’t watch any footbal ’til sunday.
“Tottenham in disguise, Tottenham in disguise
You are, you are
Tottenham in disguise”
Haven’t been able to stop chucklin’, you have to love our fans
Oui Duke, I thought our fans were amazing, you could clearly hear them in the 2nd half after the initial Madrid fervour subsided, allez allez allez drifted across the Bernabéu.
A combined U16/U15 team beat Valencia 4-1 yesterday, that after a pre-competition opener vs Barcelona which we lost 0-2, which turned out to be a friendly. Maybe we’ll meet Barca again later in a meaningful game?
It just goes to show the level of Max Dowman became he could out there with his contemporaries but he is earmarked for the senior squad ami.
I’m not sure if I’m imagining it but I honestly think that the level of the youngsters we’re developing has improved over the time Per Mertesaker has been in charge, it’s taken time but maybe some of the things he initiated when he took over are now bearing fruit?
Patience is a virtue mon matey
New post
I’ve been thinking along the same lines since the start of the season, Kev.
I’ve eaten my humble pie about Per (P., you were right about him all along!); I think nothing highlights the seriousness of his tenure as the coming of age of a crop of CBs as the club hasn’t produced in aeons: Clarke, Onyekachukwu, Sweet and above all Marli Salmon whose maturity, on top of all his other qualities, is nothing but jaw-dropping, considering he’s … 15!! – that’s six possible top-level CB pairs for next season’s Youth League! (my own personal obsession); these boys are also one of the reasons why the club didn’t put their foot down about Heaven imo.
This achievement has BFG written all over it – either I’m honest about it, or I’ll just have to “hold my peace forever”.
About the MIC tournament, here’s the link to watch the games:
https://www.esportplus.tv/category/665d7b6c8d8ab7540328982e/sub-category/67e15230866bfe2ce220e13b/
The kids won 7-0 against an Italian team this morning …
7-0, that’s impressive Duke, I’ve tried to find some coverage on YouTube, highlights etc, I’ll give your link a try, merci.
Yes, developing a centre back would be most welcome, as you say, it’s been a long time. Jeorge seems to hold high hopes in Sweet so I guess we’ll see, breaking into the Saliba/Gabriel combo must be soul destroying for any young centre back, it takes a high technical level, maturity beyond you years and a strong mentality but I think there could be some opportunities in that area of the team next season given the departures of Zinchenko and Tierney and allied to the uncertainty over Kiwior and Tomiyasu?
I think when you run an academy there has to be a realisation that most of the lads won’t reach up to level required but you still want and need a squad of very good players to assist in the development of the very few who will make it.
For every Nwaneri there’s probably a dozen or more who won’t make it, the Coaches probably know it but they ensure that the top quality guys actually do and the majority can still enjoy a great education and a career in the game.