Morning.
I’d say it was round 2pm yesterday afternoon once I stopped feeling type of overwhelmed by the Actual Madrid sport. Past the plain of the consequence and the efficiency itself, it simply felt like there was a lot occurring. Writing the weblog, making the intro to the podcast, recording with James, then delving into the entire ‘stuff’.
You understand what I imply by stuff. Publish-game interviews; Declan Rice with Thierry Henry on CBS Sports activities; extra replays of the objectives; totally different worldwide commentaries, watch the objectives once more; the realisation I’d mentioned to individuals after Arsenal Ladies beat Actual Madrid 3-0 on the Emirates a few weeks in the past ‘Think about if the boys might do this!’ – and so they did; reverse angles of the objectives; William Saliba’s wobbly-armed celebration … stuff. Good, great things.
Then it calms down, and also you begin to consider what lies forward. Within the very quick time period, Mikel Arteta has to cope with a possible Champions League hangover this weekend once we face Brentford, however after that it’s all eyes on the Bernebeu. As I mentioned within the Arsecast Additional, I believe if we’d been on the receiving finish of a 3-0 defeat, it might be broadly accepted that was the tie effectively and actually over and Actual Madrid had been pretty much as good as by. I don’t assume that’s the case for us.
Regardless of how good our efficiency was, and the way emphatic the lead we take going into that second leg, there’s nonetheless work to do. I’m way more inclined to present Arsenal credit score for a superb show than put it right down to the opposition being poor, however I don’t assume it’s unreasonable to assume they will play higher than they did. So, there’s lots for the supervisor and his workers to consider between from time to time.
Talking of his workers, Simon Collings stories within the Night Normal that Arteta’s teaching workers have all signed new contracts. Meaning Albert Stuivenberg, Carlos Cuesta, Inaki Cana, Nicolas Jover and Miguel Molina will probably be alongside him in the course of his personal deal, nor does it preclude any additions alongside the way in which.
There’s additionally a bit from James in The Athletic (£) about how Arteta mentioned of Gabriel’s harm that we’ve ‘misplaced most likely our greatest defender for 4 months’. I don’t know if that is one thing anybody else has observed, however I discover Arteta’s idea of time puzzling. He’ll discuss accidents and gamers being absent, and put time-frames on them that really feel virtually arbitrary. When my daughter was very younger, she may say ‘Keep in mind that factor we did final week …’, and it was truly months earlier than, if not the earlier 12 months. He’s like that!
In a single press convention he’ll discuss Saka being out for 3 months then in one other 4 months; Martin Odegaard’s early-season harm appeared to vary in length each time he requested about it; and after the Fulham sport he actually mentioned ‘Jesus [has been out], virtually the entire season. Ben White hasn’t participated in any respect this season.’
Simply to be clear, Jesus made 27 appearances in all competitions till he was injured in January, whereas White performed 12 video games earlier than his knee surgical procedure in November. Which is to say, when Mikel Arteta talks about how lengthy a participant goes to be out, I’m taking that with just a bit pinch of salt. Both approach, Gabriel’s goal goes to be the beginning of subsequent season, so I don’t assume it modifications a lot.
What else? Effectively, I believe we’ve discovered ourselves a free kick taker within the form of Declan Rice. To be honest, it is a dialogue we’ve had on the podcast for fairly some time now every time we’ve been requested a query about scoring extra usually from direct free kicks – and given the standard of deliveries from corners, it all the time appeared pure that he might produce one thing from central areas. I believe going ahead we’re taking a look at Rice and Bukayo Saka as the 2 males to take that duty.
What stands out for me is the actual fact they will each hit the ball with the type of energy you want for these free kicks to be efficient. Some gamers simply have that. Odegaard takes a good nook from the precise hand aspect, however Saka’s are simply higher. The identical applies to free kicks, and I’m curious if – going ahead – we would simply be a bit extra inclined to have a go at objective from positions the place beforehand we would look to clip a ball in in the direction of the massive males on the again publish. On the very least, somewhat extra selection provides the opposition one thing to consider when it comes to how they arrange defensively.
Lastly for at this time, on our aspect of the Champions League draw PSG beat Aston Villa 3-1 final evening in France. How damaging might that late concession be for Unai Emery’s aspect? I’ve to say, if we get by I might a lot slightly keep away from one other English aspect within the semi-final. Which isn’t to say I believe PSG can be simpler, simply private choice for a European competitors. I do know we beat them earlier this season, however they’re a special, extra harmful aspect now. Nevertheless, when it comes to the ‘glamour’ of that potential fixture at this stage of the Champions League, London v Paris simply has that little bit additional. Let’s see the way it all performs out.
Proper, I’m gonna go away it there for this morning. Have a superb one of us, Arsecast Additional beneath simply in case you haven’t had an opportunity to hear.
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