After last night’s festival of football (if not of defending), all eyes turned tonight towards Madrid and the Wanda Metropolitano. The Arsenal squad contained Eze, taken off on Saturday, and the returning Calafiori, both welcome returns given the expected attritional nature of the game.
Arsenal started:
Raya
White Saliba Gabriel Hincapie
Odegaard Zubimendi Rice
Madueke Gyokeres Martinelli
It was a bit disappointing not to see Saka start but the manager has far more information to hand than we do so I imagine it was a well-considered decision. The same stood for Eze, also on the bench, and Calafiori too. We need these players to be available for the rest of the season.
As the players came out, the ground was engulfed in a tsunami of noise and an Argentina ‘78 style ticker tape welcome flooded down, adding to the spectacle. The Madrid fans were going to be well up for this and our players would need cool heads.
Atletico started fast but after 5 minutes, and some excellent work on the right, Madueke, who took out two defenders with a masterful jink towards the touchline, saw his cross just evade Martinelli at the back post, giving the onrushing Hincapié the tightest of angles to hit his shot narrowly past the post. This was just the repost we needed to show Atletico that we were not here to make up the numbers, as well as give the crowd something to think about.
Indeed, this seemed to slow Atletico down and it was noticeable how they were reluctant to press us as we built from the back, not at all the blood and thunder approach we had been led to believe Simeone’s latest team would bring. In turn, the crowd began to lower the noise a little and the 3,000 travelling Arsenal fans – who had borne ludicrous flight prices (they put me off going) as well as the remnants of police tear gas aimed at the home fans earlier in the afternoon – began to be heard. On 14 minutes, the dangerous Alvarez received the ball with his back to goal in the penalty area “D”, Gabriel moved to close him really well, preventing him from taking the shot early. But Alvarez manipulated the ball beautifully onto his right, and, despite Gabriel making an amazing recovery from his first move, hit a stinging right foot shot towards the bottom left of Raya’s goal. Raya made a very good save and the danger passed.
Immediately, we made the kind of response we would want, when Gyökeres picked up the ball in our half and steamed away from his defender up towards the goal. He then laid the ball back for the oncoming Ødegaard who might have been better taking a first time shot. As it was he took a couple of touches and the danger was snuffed out. It was the kind of run from Gyökeres which we all want to see more of. He looked strong, fast and showed good technique. More of this, please Gyökeres, and Arsenal.
Arsenal continued to exert pressure then, on 17 minutes, Madueke again got the better of his defender, and his cross from the right was met by Hincapié but a foul on the Spanish defender was awarded. This was really good stuff, and Hincapié was playing magnificently, defending strongly, marauding down the left and appearing in midfield to add numbers as well. Good stuff!
The crowd were now noticeably quieter, with Arsenal exhibiting calmness and control.
On 30 minutes, Arsenal won the ball back on the right-hand side pf the opponent’s half from an Atletico throw. Ødegaard played a well-timed and weighted pass into the path of Madueke who steamed past the hapless defender and shot just wide of the right post from 30 yards. The Madrid plan, such as it was, was in tatters at this point as they didn’t seem to know when or indeed whether to press Arsenal.
Then, 3 minutes before half time, after an extended period of Arsenal control and possession, we finally breached their goal. Zubimendi controlled a high ball very well and passed to Ødegaard, who returned the favour, for Zubimendi to pass delightfully into Gyökeres, who allowed the ball to roll in front of him, ensuring the defender was now behind him. Said defender decided simply to career into the Swede’s back, leaving the referee with no option but to call a penalty, despite the ludicrous protestations of the defence. After the inevitable, and frankly performative, VAR check, Gyökeres stepped up and blasted the ball past Oblak, who went the right way but was beaten by the power of Gyökeres’ strike.
Atletico 0 Arsenal 1
Arsenal played out the rest of the half in the same calm, controlled manner and the end of the period was called.
Half time: Atletico 0 Arsenal 1
TV flicked to an external shot of the ground, which showed a gathering lightning storm approaching the Wanda Metropolitano. Ominous! Simeone must have read his team the riot act as they came out a different side. Le Normand replaced Simeone Minor, Simeone Major sacrificing his son in the manner of the Mafia don he so often looks like while prowling the edge of the pitch.
Immediately the difference was clear. On 49 minutes, Alvarez took a free kick from the edge of the box which he curled round the wall and fortunately past the angle of post and crossbar. Atletico had now noticeably upped the speed and pressing and were all the better for it.
On 52 minutes, Lookman had a break but hit the ball straight at Raya, the ball bounced out and Griezman looked odds on the score, but Gabriel threw his body at the ball and managed to deflect it wide for a corner. The pressure was beginning to build and Atletico had a number of consecutive corners, the last of which resulted in Lorente mishitting a shot into the ground and was clearly going yards wide but it bounced off White’s shin and onto his hand. For the second night in a row, we were about to see a quite ridiculous decision! A penalty was given – but not in real time, only after VAR review – and despatched by Alvarez. Sheer common-sense dictates that neither of the pens given for handball this week ought to have been given. I also question whether this would have been given had it been for the away team.
Atletico 1 Arsenal 1
Atletico were now on top and Arteta responded, to my mind excellently, by taking a slightly below par Ødegaard off for Eze on 57 minutes.
The pressure was not stemmed however until on 68 minutes he made a triple substitution, putting on Trossard, Saka and Jesùs for Martinelli, Madueke and Gyökeres. No opprobrium to the players taken off, all of whom had done their jobs but we needed new energy and taking off the entire front line would be likely to give the home team something completely different to think about. The pendulum began to swing back a little in Arsenal’s favour, Jesùs dropped deeper to add another body as well as holding the ball up once or twice. Eze did his thing, holding on to the ball well, retaining possession while pressured before playing the out ball. Saka seemed a little hesitant but still managed to give his full back a few torrid moments.
Lookman had another chance of a goal but fluffed his lines. A player who flatters to deceive as far as I am concerned. Then on 77 minutes, the dangerous, wily, Alvarez- who appeared to have taken a knock – was taken off for Baena. This seemed to further reduce the threat from the home team and Arsenal took back full control of the game from this point.
Immediately there followed an even more contentious refereeing decision than the Atletico penalty, when Eze went down under what has been shown to be a boot landing on top of his left foot as he drove through the penalty area. The well-placed referee immediately gave the pen. Then was summoned to VAR and required view after view of the event, before finally deciding it wasn’t a penalty, overturning his former decision under pressure from a hysterical Simeone only yards away on the touch line, overacting like a 6th former trying out for the school play. One expects it from Simeone, a man for whom sportsmanship is something that only happens to other people. But what is the excuse for the referee and VAR?
Full Time: Atletico 1 Arsenal 1
After the game, Arteta was apoplectic at the referee, stating that what happened was against the rules. Frankly, I don’t know what the rules are anymore, beyond that they seemed to be infinitely flexible, at the behest of increasingly incompetent referees and footballing authorities.
Conclusions:
- Coming into this game I was thinking about the changes in situation since October of last year when we royally rolled over Atletico. Then it felt as though we were building a real head of steam in all competitions, even if the level of all our performances hadn’t hit the heights. Today’s first half somewhat dispelled those negative thoughts as, away from home, we gave a masterclass in control and calm. The first 25/30 minutes of the second half were more nervy but we ended on the same note.
- It’s like UEFA have seen the utter nause-up PGMOL have made of refereeing in the Premier Leage and have decided to try to out compete them..
- With a full Emirates and only 3000 away supporters, there is every reason to be optimistic in the 2nd leg. We have to ensure that the referee is pressured as much as possible by the crowd. Clearly it works.
- On a night where we had no Havertz, Merino or Timber, where Saka only made a brief cameo and Calafiori remained on the bench, this was an impressive performance, away from home, in an intimidating atmosphere.
- The stunning aural and visual welcome to the teams last night needs to be replicated next Tuesday. The Emirates needs to bring the noise. Spectators are not welcome. Only participants.
We can do this!
A spicy review, CER, and all the more enjoyable for that. Like many I would have taken a draw before kick-off.
Pleasing that both Madueke and Gyokeres played well. Pleasing that Mikel is reintroducing the walking wounded judiciously and carefully. Disappointing that Timber is still nowhere to be seen (and that Ben is a Whiter Shade of Pale in his absence).
The odds swing in our favour for the second leg.
A very accurate and fair report CER .
I’m a bit nonplussed by the depression that appears to have descended on the Goonerverse fuelled mainly by a few monosyllabic or vindictive pundits in the media . This is close to a high water mark in Arsenal’s standing as a club. Well poised to reach the Champions League Final and top of the Premier League with four games to go I think Arsenal fans should be a lot happier than many are at present
This does not apply to GHF where I think we have a sense of proper perspective. I put it down to tension, so close to glory but nothing confirmed
Yesterday we were much better as a team . Gyokeres did a fine job as did Madueke , neither of whom are players I believe are of the highest quality. I am a big fan of Hincapie and Saliba has been excellent . Rice and Zubi were very good but Martinelli frustrates me . But it was overall a good team performance marred by refereeing aberrations . Let’s roast them at the Emirates next week !
Thank you for a spirited report, CER, which captures the key points of the game well.
I thought both managers earned their corn with their substitutions, Simone using his to change shape with a switch to a back three for the second half and Arteta using his to change bodies to counter that and reestablish control.
VAR was excruciating.
TTG@2: I read a social media comment that Arteta deserved to be sacked for prioritising winning a CL semi-final over playing entertaining football. At which point, I logged off.
Ned@4 – some people, unfortunately, gave very little control over their own lives, so need to make frankly stupid comments as a form of displacement activity.
That’s the match I saw CER. Thank you. You capture the experience well.
I thought we were superb in the first half, controlled the tempo of the game and thoroughly deserved the 1-0 HT lead. However, we were on the back foot for much of the second half as Atléti came out like raging bulls. The penalty decisions from VAR were potentially destabilising but we weathered the storm and showed great character to wrest back control of the game later on. Rice was colossal. None of the starters disappointed me -every one of them put in a shift.
All our players need to be on their toes in the second leg and if we play as well as they did in the first half, we should win the tie but I am intrigued to see what dark arts Simeone brings with him. I hope he is sent back to Madrid with his tail between his legs and his horns broken. At minimum the crowd must give him and his players the bird at every opportunity.
Now we must swallow the disappointment of the VAR injustice and focus on beating Fulham. Onward.
That’s a really excellent report CER. Struck exactly the right note for me and I have little to add.
I did wonder if the Odegaard sub was made with an eye on Fulham and the second leg of Atleti. He’s been in and out this season and presumably we want him to start every remaining match, so his minutes need to be managed.
Martinelli and Trossard did nothing to change my mind that Eze is our best option on the left. That’s what I’d like to see in the home leg. Assuming that we haven’t had another 3 attackers get injured by then.
BtM@1. Haha!
CER@5: Seems like ‘some’ = ‘many’.
Simone seems to have a higher opinion of the team than some Gooners: “They’re very good, they haven’t lost a single Champions League match, they’re top of the Premier League,” he said after the game.
An eye-opening stat: Atleti’s xG (2.2) was the second-highest by a team against Arsenal across all competitions this season, only behind Aston Villa in December 2025 in the Premier League (2.5).
Cheers CER. Our second pelanty was a definite pelanty, should never have been overturned.
Apart from that, not much to complain about, could have won, could have lost, draw seemed fair. Differently from the night before, but it was a pretty decent CL semi-final tense first leg. I was very pleased that we mostly got back on top in the last few minutes too, so a strong finish.
Fairly confident for next week, with Saka and Eze fitter and being at home. Though I know it will be once more a lot harder to completely feel part of it on a TV screen. I feel I’ve been exiled since March the 1st….
Think we might need Timber for a possible final to have a better chance though.
Thanks CER, pretty much as I saw it too.
I thought Ben’s would be a pen the moment
I saw the replay, he was unlucky but those
decisions seem to be always given in the CL.
Was very impressed with how we turned the
2nd half around, it would have been easy to
crumble but we showed great character that hopefully
will be rewarded in the second leg when we
crush them.
Ned@9- there you go go again, needlessly bringing facts into the discussion, when we all know that the sole arbiter of truth is some 40 year old bloke in his mum’s basement spewing forth his “feelings”.
Well played, CER !
We’ve just shown in two recent away games that we are well capable of mixing it wirh the best. We should have won at C115y – penalty not given, Khusanov not sent off, and hit the post twice in the second half. We should have won last night in a very intimidating atmosphere – penalty not given to us, one wrongly given against us – there’s a pattern here – and with our most effective forwards unavailable or not properly fit.
And then – Simeone ….. 🤮
Simeone’s complete lack of class and self control seems to have earned him chuckling acceptance / respect from the various media forms as a “character” who is “absolutely loved” by the Atléti fans.
Of course he is as his ridiculous antics and orchestration of that huge fanatical (nothing wrong with fanatical btw) crowd pressure referees into decisions like last night. I don’t believe that referee had any intention of overturning Eze’s penalty until Simeone , his players and the crowd literally bullied him into it.
And then he physically sets about Ben White for walking over their fucking badge laid smack in the entrance to the player’s tunnel.
Message to Simeone: see you next Tuesday.
@10, Ollie, and no doubt there’ll be pelanty more of that kind of thing before the Sensational Six comes up a double on the dice at the end of the season.
haha, yes BtM. I’m all up for the double Six. Also I briefly forgot I wasn’t on arseblog so ‘pelanty’ is not necessarily the habitual word. 😀 (can’t remember if it came from Hoddle or Waddle regularly mispronouncing the word on TV, one of these anyway)
It was Waddle – thick Geordie Spud.
Excellent report CER.
I think we’ll do’em at our place next week.
Ollie, I’ll probably go for The Bombardier for the Fulham game.
Can walk there and back from quartier Poissonière. The Lions would mean taking the Metro, which would be a shame in Paris this time of year.
Also, it’s owned by the Bedford brewery Wells & Co.
They’ve got The King Arthur in Lyon. Had excellent Beer and food there a couple of months back with my daughter (who lives in Lyon)
CER@12: 😀
English beer in the heart of Burgundy? That’ll learn ‘em!
Lyon is fabulous. The food is awesome, the wine better. I once went out with a girl from the region.
Best I stop there…
Excellent report, CER. Next on the agenda ?
Do Fulham. Do Atleti. Do the rest and take ze trophies 🏆 🏆
Sorry CER, have to correct you there….
Lyon is not in the Burgundy region.
I’m further south. Local plonks are Hermitage, Crozes Hermitage and St Joseph..
Fantastic!
I always bring a couple of bottles to London to say thanks to any of my brother’s (ST holder) mates that sorts me out for a match ticket when I’m up during the season!
JML@23- Ignorant N1 boy, me. What do I know?!
My apologies….no criticism meant
No, no, none taken! Geography, amongst other things, was never my strong point!
It was very noticeable on Sky that a serious storm was headed for the Wando Metropolitana and everyone was reaching for serious rainwear . Yet behind the summarisers the Groundsmen were firing huge plumes of water into the Arsenal half ( just the Arsenal half). Players were already losing their footing before they made it even more slippery .They were creating nightmare conditions for defenders as they did when the last North London superpower were in town a few weeks ago.
It was shithousery of epic proportions.
I hope Mikel has worked out a way to retaliate on Tuesday .
The phrase “two Bob” was invented to describe Simeone, C130y, FC Chelski 2003 amongst others.
For non-British readers , please ask for an explanation if required.
@22 JML, sounds like a great place to be!
I used to go to Lyon a lot but hadn’t been for a while until I went last year.
The city felt different in some way, hard to say what really, but less of a
local, small city feel than years ago. Might just have been me.
Anyway, met some old friends and had a bottle of St Veran and then St Joseph with dinner, some things hadn’t changed fortunately
Sadly it’s almost impossible to find St Joseph in Osaka over the last
few years for various reasons, or any decent Rhône come to that.
Is that one of those first world problems people are on about? 😂
OM@28 – no St. Joseph? “Mais, Ou sont les neiges d’antan?”! I just hope you manage to get by!
That’s yer actual French, as C100 would say….
Good stuff. JML. Not decided yet where I will be watching the match, have to arrange with a mate. Not sure I’ll have a big session, mind, as I seem to have one set for tonight now….
I was going to correct CER’s strange geography, but glad you got there first!
I have a sister who’s been living in Lyon for a few years now (to my eternal sadness, as she was the last one who left Bordeaux).
Not sure why a lot of people in various places still call the Metropolitano ‘Wanda’ as it is now the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium.
Wanda was just another sponsor, so I’d say ignore it altogether or update if you want to make any sense. Metropolitano Stadium on its own sounds good enough to me.
Yer actual French sounds like the one that involves the use of tongues, just sayin’
Also, ou sont les negligees d’antan. 👻
“Yer actual French” comes from Julian and Sandy in the immortal Round the Horne.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_and_Sandy
C100@33- Yep, I thought I’d attribute it to you as some of our overseas readers/contributors may not have had the good fortune to listen to Round the Horne. Comedy gold. Bona.
Thanks for the cultural context, C100 and CER. Just before my time, overseas or not.
C100@33 & CER@34: Fantabuloso!
I have a dim memory that Kenneth Williams used the catchphrase in Beyond Our Ken, which preceded Round the Horne, even though I don’t think Julian and Sandy appeared until the later show. As C100’s Wiki link alludes, Peter Cook, as Pete in Pete and Dud sketches on TV from the same era, used ‘that’s your actual……, Dud’ in many contexts.
Ah, golden days…
Just before my time too!
OM @ 28
I’ve got to know Lyon better than I did before, since my daughter moved there.
Great place!
Gooners that know St Joseph….what’s not to like?
Peut-être que je vais participer ici un peu plus…
And that’s…….yer français actuel!
Ollie,
as I said, I’ll probably go for the Bombardier (ooh er missus)
Will gladly meet for a pint if you and your mate decide to watch the match there.
The Lions does look good though….maybe not so packed on a bank holiday weekend?
Suspect The Lions not be too packed tomorrow indeed. Will liaise tomorrow in these pages. Well, the preview anyway. Tonight being reasonable after all….
Ok
let me know what you’re up to tomorrow.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>