Arsenal took a blow in their bid for a Champions League final. They took the Parisians to the very limit, going down 1-0 at home (at the Emirates Stadium) in the first leg of that semi-final. The Gunners will need to do much better in the return leg, scheduled for midweek. They will have to make up this shortfall just to earn a place in the final on May 31 in Munich.
Paul Merson — former Arsenal great and current UK football pundit. He unapologetically declared that Arsenal completely sh*t the bed in their first leg showdown with PSG. He pointed to the absence of key midfielder Thomas Partey as a major reason for their dropoff. He reckons Partey’s return will see Declan Rice able to push further up the pitch, doubling-up on the threat that Arsenal can present between the lines.
Despite the timely chaos, Gary Neville, another famous football critic, cuts a break on Arsenal’s performance. He noted that PSG has a tendency to get “a bit too nervous” when it comes to crucial knockout matches. Meaning, the Gunners might be able to exploit this weakness.
Arsenal’s Tactical Adjustments
It took Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, a typically bold decision to leave top scorer Bukayo Saka on the bench. By comparison, PSG chose to sit all of their first-leg starting squad. This very astute move illustrates Arteta’s determination to ensure that the team’s positive momentum continues unabated. Now, ahead of Friday’s second leg against PSG, he’s getting his squad ready.
With a number of key figures back on the mend, The Gunners seek to channel the same fortitude and spunk. Arteta accepted that the margin for difference in the first leg was razor thin. He stressed that with a little bit of tweaking, it could be a very different outcome next time.
“I don’t have any doubt about the spirit of the team. I don’t have any doubt about the quality of the players, the quality of the manager that they have and important players coming back from suspension, from injuries, and they can do a result in Paris.” – Mikel Arteta
As Arsenal prepares for their decisive match against PSG, certain players face scrutiny regarding their performances. Paul Merson warned that Martin Odegaard has to raise his levels after being called out. Together with Declan Rice, Odegaard is at the heart of Arsenal’s dynamic midfield. His poise under fire could prove decisive in the first leg of their EUCL fixture.
Player Performances Under Scrutiny
After his summer transfer to Arsenal, Declan Rice quickly wowed Premier League fans with a powerful and energetic run. His hard work opened a goal scoring chance for Arsenal. The Gunners scored two goals in the span of three minutes in that match. This little mini scoring eruption reminded fans of their tremendous comeback prowess when everything is clicking.
Arteta has shown confidence in his squad’s capacity to be competitive in all arenas.
He reflected on the resiliency of his team’s character all season long.
“100 per cent, because we’ve been able to do that – compete.” – Mikel Arteta
Looking forward to their potentially decisive second leg against PSG, Arsenal are in a tough situation. To reach the final, they’ll have to score at least two goals and allow none. Despite this challenge, Arteta is undeterred.
“This season is the best example of what this club and team is about. The resilience, the character and how we have overcome so many difficult situations.” – Mikel Arteta
The Path Ahead
He believes that if his team can remain competitive and hold their ground during the final moments of the match, they could secure a victory.
“The words I would use is ‘win in any context’.” – Mikel Arteta
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Arsenal as they seek to become the first women’s team ever to win a Champions League final. Most importantly, key players are returning from injuries and suspensions. The squad remains optimistic that they can turn their fortunes around against PSG.
“If they can stay into that game in the final 15 to 20 minutes, then they have a chance.” – Mikel Arteta
The stakes are high for Arsenal as they aim to make history by reaching the Champions League final. With critical players returning from injuries and suspensions, there is hope within the squad that they can turn around their fortunes against PSG.
Leave a Reply