That was the mantra provided by Mikel Arteta prior to the Real Madrid tie who we absolutely walloped (in case you needed reminding) and he repeated it before the PSG first leg which has so far, taken a slightly different course to the previous round.
Before the game and for the first few minutes, the Emirates was louder than I have ever heard it before, and the Madrid game was an extraordinary atmosphere and many believed that was one that would take years to eclipse. Had we not conceded as early as we had, I believe it would’ve done exactly that. For all the moaning about the atmosphere, it’s fair to say that when you concede in those circumstances in a game of that magnitude, it is always going to knock the stuffing out of a crowd to some extent. And this is especially true of English crowds who are known for being reactive rather than the constant, singing, drumming and jumping around you get from continental crowds. For all the ultras movement that the Ashburton Army lads are trying to implement, it’s difficult to change an entire culture of football fandom. Not that it’s down to lack of trying.
In any case, I don’t think the atmosphere last week was anywhere near as bad as Twitter (not X) would lead you to believe. Since last week’s and Saturday’s defeats, we have seen a great deal of yelling into the void on various sections of the interweb, which is understandable to some (heavy emphasis on the ‘some’) extent. Our form over the last few months has been patchy to say the least. We have had to watch from afar whilst Liverpool have won the title at a canter whilst we have been dropping points left, right and centre, many from healthy winning positions. That is disappointing. But that will happen when your squad has been decimated by injuries even if the certain sections of the obnoxious British media tries to gaslight us into thinking it hasn’t.
But on to the game and what we must do to progress. We are 1-0 down so we must score, no matter what. Ideally two without conceding. So, it’s hardly a mountain, is it? More like a fairly large hill, one that you would have no huge difficulty climbing if you had a clean bill of health which, sadly, we do not have. With a fully fit squad I think we would’ve won last week quite comfortably. We are without Havertz, Jesùs, Gabriel, Jorginho, Tomiyasu although we will have Partey available following his suspension which ruled him out the first leg.
PSG have everyone available although there have been reports coming out of France suggesting Dembele is out with a hamstring issue. Of course he is, lads! Ring the other one it’s got bells on. They made 10 changes on Saturday for their game at Strasbourg. PSG have, of course, already won the French Dog and Duck pub league which means absolutely nothing to their fans in reality. As we all know, they are owned and bankrolled by the Qatari Royal Family who have continuously pumped their limitless supply of cash into the club rendering the idea of competition in French Football essentially pointless. As a result of that, French Football has suffered financially in recent years as potential broadcasters and other investors are understandably not too keen on investing millions into a dead product when the winner is decided in August.
All of this makes it more embarrassing that they have never won the Champions League. From day 1 it has been their Holy Grail but much to the delight of anyone with a conscience, it has so far eluded them. Their closest effort came in 2020 when they reached their first final but lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich in an empty stadium due to Covid when all the knockout rounds were played as one-off ties at a neutral venue. So even that has a big old Asterix next to it.
In terms of how the game will go, it’s a tough one to call. PSG certainly don’t strike me as the kind of team to sit back on a lead which could potentially suit us. We did create a good number of chances last week and we quite easily could have been going into this game at least on level terms. But they also had chances to extend their lead, so keeping a clean sheet will be a tough ask but it’s doable. We certainly dwarf them physically in midfield, Rice and MLS both enjoyed several driving runs through the middle of the pitch, and both were unlucky not to come away with an assist each – MLS for Martinelli in the first half and Rice for Trossard in the second. Hopefully, the addition of Partey will give both Rice and MLS even more license to roam up the pitch whist the Ghanaian shores things up defensively. Crucially, Partey’s presence should allow Merino to resume his post up top where he has been surprisingly effective. I think we will create some good chances, but will we take them?
Of course, it’s not just a question of physical strength. Vitinha, Neves and Fabian Ruiz aren’t players you can easily push around. Luis Enrique is no dummy and his man to man pressing structure caused Liverpool a lot of problems in the Round of 16. But despite this, in the first leg it was clear that PSG deemed Saka our most dangerous threat and targeted him more than any other. Of course, this is not unusual as Saka is almost always double or even triple marked. However, there was one incident in the first half last week where Saka was surrounded by five PSG players. In theory this should mean there will be more space elsewhere on the pitch for certain other players to do damage. Let’s hope this proves to be the case.
Another potential area of weakness in PSG’s arrears we can exploit and did to some extent last week, is their goalkeeper. Personally, I have never been convinced by Donnaruma and an area he really struggles with is claiming crosses whether it be from open play or set pieces. For Merino’s disallowed goal last week, The Italian charged out of his goal allowing Merino to head home into a largely unprotected goal. I thought he was overly protected by the referee and decidedly average when claiming crosses from open play. One to target perhaps.
Overall, I don’t think any of us have any clue as to how this game will play out. You would like to think we will be well up for it but with the injuries we have it’s very difficult. Although no one will give us any credit for it, the fact we’ve even made it as far as the semi finals is a big achievement and one for which Arteta and his players deserve a lot of credit. It has been a torrid season in terms of luck but we are still potentially 180 minutes away from history.
Let’s make it happen!
Bravo, 21CG. An uplifting call to gird the loins for what is likely to be a titanic struggle. Let us hope the occasion can draw out the energy and will needed from an exhausted team.
And a reminder to the latecomers that the latest GHF Predictathon leaderboard has been posted in the usual place.
A well considered preview 21CG and enjoyable as ever. With the prospect of Partey’s return I was buoyantly optimistic in the immediate aftermath of the first leg v PSG. I have to admit that some of the sheen was rubbed off of that positivity during the course of a dispiriting game on Saturday during which several of our team looked, frankly, knackered. But I like your perspective and appreciate the view that different competitions spawn different moods, methods, motivations (and a multitude of other words beginning with m which, at this particular moment my moribund mind’s management models middling at best).
Anyhow, yes, Make It Happen.
NLFE
@2, Ned, my local bookmakers are offering very spicy odds on TTG pipping Ollie for the wooden spoon by season end. What say you?
Btm
I’m all over that. Maybe it will be last in the Predictathon and higher up ( much) in the Ropey League!😀
I’m very conflicted by tomorrow. I desperately hope we get through but last week’s two games had a depressant effect and PSG in the first thirty minutes were electric . But I remember feeling we had no chance before Juventus in 1980 and at Anfield in 1989.
So I’m letting my heart rule my head like proper supporters do .
Anyway it’s a super preview 21CG thanks – you’ve done a lot of work for the blog this year and it’s much appreciated. COYG!
Great upbeat preview, 21CG. Thank you.
TTG @5 above – excellently put. Paul Vaessen and Michael Thomas moments do happen in real life. And let’s face it, PSG are not 1980 Juve – Zoff, Cabrini, Gentile, Scirea, Bettega, Causio – nor 1989 Liverpool – Hansen, Houghton, Aldridge, Rush, Barnes, Beardsley.
Let’s make it happen, Gunbners.
A perfect loin-girding preview to the biggest game the Arsenal have played in 20 years, 21CG. Thank you.
Sadly, I will not be able to watch the match live as I will be at the ROH watching Richard Wagner’s ‘Die Walkürie’ – the world’s hottest ticket outside Paris. I don’t expect that I shall be able to watch the match on delay without knowing the result but I’ll give it a go. I do hope that Wotan will be on our side.
Make it happen!
Thanks 21CG, as you say hard to predict when we don’t know how much gas is left in the tank. I hope we can channel the Anfield spirit with a first half goal to level it up and then a late one to win it. I certainly believe we are good enough if fit enough and TP5 will help our balance a lot.
BtM@4: As the man with his finger on the abacus, my lips are sealed. It could still go either way — or it could not.
I went for a narrow home defeat last week but tomorrow I think we’ll be much smarter and things will click. 3-1 Arsenal.
A very balanced preview 21CG — just the right amalgamation of caution, optimism and insight! Thank you!
Timber is likely fit and I think our strongest starting eleven in that case selects themselves. PSG looked very vulnerable every time Rice ran at the defense with the ball, and also looked vulnerable in air defending crosses and corners. Rice at left sided 8 and Merino as a focal point in attack both of these weaknesses can be exploited.
Would also like to see Ødegaard operating a bit more in the final third and not so much as an auxiliary DM to receive passes from his own keeper. What we gain in control by using him in so many ways is what we lose in final third creativity.
Rice said in an interview that the team wants to show everyone the best version of themselves — if they can achieve that, then even with all these injuries I am optimistic we will be in the final.
An away 3-1 victory seems daunting, but if we get the first goal and get it early enough, the possibilities open up.
Come on Arsenal!
21CG, you’ve nailed the preview. Very nicely written and full of sense (by which I mean, stuff that I agree with, obviously).
Rice, Partey and Odegaard are key for us. Vitinha is not a player I covet, but he’s very effective for them. I’d happily have Ruiz and Neves, especially the latter. So, the midfield battle and strategy will be huge.
I want to see us show steel and drive, in the mould of our manager, and quality that befits the wonderful players we have. Beyond that, as 21CG rightly says, none of us has a clue how it will play out, so let’s just wait and see. Make it happen, indeed.
VCC
Cheers 21CG! Could end up being 240 minutes, but it is doable. So let’s do it!
Hopefully I’ll see a few Gooners in town later.
Thanks 21st, good preview.
I fancy us for a result but how and over what period I hesitate to guess.
Maybe 2-1 and then spotties, all smashed into the corners.
UTA.
A day of destiny dawns.
Dawn, Ned? Did you just wake up? :-O
Thanks 21CG for a thoughtful and positive preview. Step on the pitch with the same mindset as we did in Madrid and a win is very possible. A nerve wracking time ahead for us supporters – destiny awaits.
COYRRR
Ollie@16: No. But dawn had only just arrived. (Cue bad joke from Trev.)
The team is as expected, Jorginho and Calafiori back on the bench.
Have a great day to any Holics lucky enough to be there!
And a great morning, afternoon or evening to the rest of us too
COYGS!!
Played really well first half but Pissg can sit back and play us on the break with that lead. Shame we haven’t got a fox in the box to gamble on Saka’s crosses.
Too much for a team absolutely out of any kind of form, Raya saves a penalty and then Thomas who we all hoped could get us back in the game effectively kills it
Can’t fault the effort, the desire or the tactics, but we couldn’t put the ball in the net, and they could. Donnarumma was the man of the match across the two legs. PSG would have lost without him.
Yeah, we gave it our all certainly and we’ll be back.
Needed an early goal tonight or even the one just after Saka scored
but wasn’t to be. For me we did well in the CL this season and it’s been many years since
we could say that really so no complaints even though it hurts.
It really hurts that we have come up short again. The most important thing is to put this behind us and win at Anfield.
Psg are a class act and deserved the win but we gave it a real go.
I was very proud of our team tonight. I thought we were the better side . Over the two ties we had a considerably higher xG but they had Donnarumma! I believe this side will progress to great things. Do not give up hope !
Gutsy, determined effort this season, with no small measure of skill thrown in. I had the good fortune to watch every game at home in the CL and Milan, Lisbon and Madrid away and in every one of those games we were the better side. Massive credit to Arteta. He has turned this ship around, offloaded the dead weight, completely refurbished it and set it on the path to success. The man is greatly to be praised and admired.
I am looking forward to going away to Anfield this weekend. Regardless of the result, 21 CG and I will be there backing both manager and team and thanking them for their massive efforts.
I can’t wait for next season.
COYG.
CER@26: Well said. The piling on of Arteta on social media started as soon as the final whistle blew in Paris. To the contrary, Arteta deserves huge credit and praise for what he has done to bring this team to where it is, and especially in a season as trying as this one.
To have come so close to a CL final is painful, but we must not let that pain dull our perspective.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>