Home, what is it that drives us home? What drives us on at home? And when home is away from home, how can we cope? Putatively “at home” for Thursday evening’s tussle with a gritty S.L. Benfica side, we must make our Homerian trek across the sea to Athens’ Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis. Now, if we have to be away (but at home), it seems to be fitting it happens in this time of Covid. Isn’t that how we’re all vacationing right now, in any case? But will we find our hosts evincing xenia, fulfilling their moral obligation by supporting an Arsenal victory? If so, we therefore must fulfill our obligation, and play football with a depth of beauty unseen in Athens since Griechenland FC plied their trade.
We sail on this odyssey along the winds of a slim away-goals advantage, having ridden the tide of our young hero Saka’s second half equalizer. It’s a narrow gap we hope to thread, between the Charybdian whirlpool of Benfica’s defense and the Scyllian monster of our own folly. As a team again we must find our inner Odysseus, and remain tied to the mast to resist that Sirenian temptation to give up a goal; and yet we must retain enough strength to string our bow and score…for the prize is another step forward on our remaining path into Europe next season (which is greater than any other prize for our club, with apologies to Penelope).
Benfica come to “the home of Arsenal” with a full squad, carrying no injuries or suspensions they didn’t bring with them to their home away from home in Rome. BT8’s excellent preview of the game last week is available for who they have and who play where. As we saw in Rome they are a relatively strong defensive side, capable of playing us offside or clearing our forays over the top. However, their lack of offensive production was highlighted by the penalty they scored against us. If we can avoid such errors our defense should be enough to keep them from the Thrinacia of our goal.
With Capitola Rob missing the game due to “the concussion Jon Moss didn’t see”, our options in central defense are less replete; our midfield options might be augmented by the return to the Partey of Thomas, but it would take Tiresias himself to say if the Partey will start before the lineups are announced. Given the rest of our squad is running a bit ragged, or on the ragged edge, I expect our helmsman to crew his galley as follows:
Leno
Bellerin — Luiz — Gabriel — Cedric
Xhaka — Ceballos
Saka — Ødegaard — Pépé
Lacazette
Lacazette is due to start, and after Auba’s tired-looking game against the $heiks this past Monday I think he should watch from the bench as his friend leads the line. ESR is due for a rest, and given the intensity Ødegaard is used to (NOT that presented by the selfsame $heiks) this seems to be a game tailor-made for him to fill the central creative role. I could see Martinelli on the left rather than Pépé; the latter’s nondescript game against the Oilers might force the former to be on the pitch.
The Holics Pound
As we’re doing a “purdie” shuffle off to Athens, and the travel comes on the heels of a game every three or so days in the last couple weeks, I hesitate to think that Phaeacian riches will be our reward, regardless of the scoreline. An old-fashioned 1-0 to the Arsenal will be just fine, and that can be found for 7s; a 3-0 win is on for 14/1, but the good money again might be at 4-0, which would double that return. Put a fiver on the latter and you can buy many a bottle of smooth retsina…
Thanks for the epic preview, scruz!
Cheers, scruz. I’ll read and comment later but just missed posting this in the previous drinks so will try again here.
Bath, I enjoyed yours at 55. I looked up the distance between Clarksdale, Mississippi (the location of the crossroads Clapton is singing about in this Robert Johnson original tune) and Rosedale, Mississippi the destination where the hitchhiker wants to go, and for what it’s worth here is what I found out:
43 min (38.8 mi)
via US-278 W/US-61 S and MS-1 S
Epic’s the word. A nonstop flight to Athens could make our journey a bit smoother than Homer’s one would think, but it’s what we do once we get there that will count.
A classic, Scruz.
An olympic gold medal for you scruz for a fine preview.
Storming start, 3-0 up after 20 minutes and then
cruise home to a 5-1 win.
Maintaining the classical metaphor, after last weeks performance I’m in need of a Pythian prophesy on the outcome of tonight. Hopefully the wooden walls of our defence don’t succumb to the vagaries of poor penalty decisions, and our attack doesn’t founder on the Clashing Rocks of their offside trap. Know Thyself , Gunners, and we shall be rewarded with the Golden Apple of a two leg trip to other exotic lands.
Enough already. COYG.
Fantastic stuff Scruz!
I’m a sucker for classical allusions. It is my Achilles heel.
Scruz. I am wondering if you missed a trick not mentioning our right back? A bloke called Hector in our side seems tailor made for this piece!
An epic preview Scruz.
Whoever plays up front they need their shooting boots on as our Phoenician has been sorely lacking of late! A close fought 1-0 will be enough – COYR.
Unbelievably, England are on the charge in the cricket!
Masterful, scruz. Simply masterful. Respect. Dave is up there chuckling.
Θα πρέπει να έχετε μια καταιγίδα κυτοκινών κάθε φορά που γράφετε!
Scruz
The Dan and retsina together in one post gets my vote. Top stuff.
UTA.
As to the starting eleven for this must win match, the back four and holding midfield is pretty intuitive but I would definitely choose ESR over Ødegaard and probably start Aubameyang over Pépé though that is a fine call given the relative poverty of the contribution of each on their last outing. I’d also have a low threshold for giving Saka a break if at all possible early in the second half.
Literally a classic preview Scruz which rapidly advanced past my limited mythological recollection . It’s a weird competition when the Scum can play at home but their opposition have to move from Austria to Budapest . It makes it a lottery.
Football is full of irony and Arsenal is full of hypocritical fans who slaughtered Auba last week. According to them he is a busted flush. I think he will come good tonight. We have to do a lot wrong to lose to a limited team but we must play much quicker to defeat the offside trap. I’d use ESR because of his movement but whoever we pick we have to be good enough to beat this lot
COYG!
I just hope we don’t come Acropolis in Athens tonight.
I’ll get my cloak…
If you want to feel a bit more commoditised, this article explains how AC Milan is turning itself into a media business. A lot of it will seem familiar.
Excellent preview Scruz!
“Well the danger on the rocks is surely past/Still I remain tied to the mast” — That’s what Odysseus must have told Telemachus in their reunion following Athena’s urging. And I guess something along the lines of what Arsène says to Mikel in their phone calls…
I think ESR probably will start this match. Ødegaard may get a break as he started the last three…Saka is so important and in such good form he won’t be rested for this but I hope he is not pushed beyond what is reasonable for a 19 year old. We have been down that road before…Partey I think has also traveled.
A high-flying start and an early Arsenal goal will be best as then we can simply keep possession while maintaining a secure shape and rely on counter-attacks.
Come on Arsenal!
Leno, Bellerin, Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney, Ceballos, Xhaka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Saka, Aubameyang
Subs: Ryan, Hein, Cedric, Chambers, Mari, Elneny, Partey, Pepe, Willian, Nketiah, Lacazette, Martinelli
Message #match-chat
and Cheers Scruz!
@GSD 10
Yes it was unbelievable was it not?
That was an outstanding preview Scruz, congratulations.
So he’s really gone for it, with the only caution being Partey. Bring it on!
Esso. It didn’t last though mate! 😬
As long as they don’t look as leggy as they did against City we will be fine. We are a better outfit than Benfica. We just have to do things we have not always done well in recent years… play our game, take our chances and handle the occasion.
Us to win by two.
UTA
Gone for it with the team selection
and that XI should be too good for
Benfica – COYGS!!
Team selection is a statement of intent by Arteta. Hopefully, we will be out of sight in time to rest some legs in the second half.
uefa.com’s Benfica reporter sez “Benfica go with three central defenders as part of a 3-5-2 system tonight. Wing backs Grimaldo and Diogo Gonçalves were both on duty in last week’s first leg, and I expect them to attack more than they did in Rome, when it was more of a 5-3-2 set-up from Benfica.“
I am not sure I like these two-day Test matches.
bt8@26: I think Benfica started the first leg with a 3-5-2 set up. The wing-backs drop back to create a 5-3-2 when the team is out of possession, which was 60% of the Rome game. It will be important for Bellerin and Tierney to keep Grimaldo and Gonclaves pinned back to blunt their attacking threat.
Another fine preview, Scruzgooner. Two changes from your team, Pepe and Cedric missing out and ESR and KT taking their place. We have a really attacking side and I hope they take their chances. COYG.
Aubaaaa!!!!
yay
Great weight on the pass from
Saka, timing and finish perfect
from Auba 🥳
I was just thinking we’d started
too slowly and we scored
So far so good. Stay switched on Arsenal
yeah, I’d love to nick another
before half time
Benefica equalise with a great free kick. 1-1.
instead they get one just before
half time, bugger
The goal is a tonic for Benefica who are attacking more now. We need a goal but Benefica have the advantage of an away goal.
their goal is going to make it a
tricky 2nd half now. I hope we
can come out strongly start of
the 2nd half
Frustrating half. We have dominated the game but only mustered 2 shots on target. Benfica have not had a look in. Then we give away a silly free kick and all of a sudden we are level.
Benfica are not a great side. Two silly errors of judgment over a game and a half of football and we are down to the final 45 minutes of a game where it’s now imperative that we don’t concede again.
Time to dominate and be far more clinical. Time to manage the game.
Great free kick but a bad place on the pitch to give one away. Tactics and commitment spot on though. More of the same and we should win it but we need to come out strong in the second half.
COYG
Great goal by Auba ruled out for offside. Excellent pass by Odegaard.
Terrible match for Ceballos whose dreadful back header was poached by the Benefica forward who scored. We are not street smart.
Who comes on but Willian for ESR and Partey on for Ceballos.
We’ve just re-written the definition of the word shambles
two to get, 25 minutes to do it
certainly doable COYGS!
Tierney!!!!!!
We need another.
there’s one!
get in KT, good from Willian
A Willian assist? Our name is on the trophy. Clearly.
living dangerously with careless
defending by both CBs
Last 10 my nurse and still only had 4 shots on target.
We can’t get the ball off them.
We desperately need someone with some composure.
Was Auba offside? VAR gives it!!!!! 3-2.
You mean they aren’t going to take that away?🥸
Another great assist by Saka.
Chambers and Elneny coming on for Saka and Odegaard.
Blimey.
We never make it easy for ourselves.
They hit the post off an offside position.
We have done it. Yeah.
Thank fuck for that.
We showed character and kept fighting. Except Ceballos everyone had a decent outing but Saka, Auba, Odegaard, KT and Luiz played really well. Partey made a difference when he came on.
heart still pumping? yes
possible ulcer? yes
through? yes 👏👏👏
Yet again, one of the youngest players on the pitch shows the most skill and most composure.
Great result although we can’t make it that tough every week. We need to enjoy the win, but also use this as a big learning curve.
Onwards and upwards
Bt8, aren’t you watching?
Good win. Spirited display. Much to like there. Partey’s arrival made a difference.
KT. 💐💐💐
Saka. 💐💐💐💐
Can’t quite believe it, KSB. Cheers!
KSB = ksn
Why do we make it so hard on ourselves?
In any case I think Elneny may have moved up one spot in the pecking order.
The next round draw is tomorrow. Theoretically, based on what I see here, we could face Sp@@s or 14 other clubs.
https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/draws/2021/2001242/
Auba, and maybe VAR, to the rescue. We looked knackered in the final 15 minutes, though. Benfica were tactically smart, and we were running scared of their off-side trap all game — or rather, not running, just scared. Benfica are a decent side and made the most of the two chances we gave them, but no more than that. Plenty of better teams left in the competition. We are going to have to up our game if we are to win it.
well, the danger on the rocks is surely there.
god, what a game. the perils of odysseus indeed.
thanks all for the compliments. it was fun to write. ksn@29, well nailed.
we need these ugly wins as much as we have to suffer those pretty losses. i’ll take the former every time. though hopefully we’ve emptied our gift bag…
gsd@8, i was trying to focus on homer’s later tales. 🙂
Cheers again Scruz! Great preview – great result!
baff@11, Οι κυτοκίνες είναι μια μεθυστική παρασκευή, δεν είναι σίγουρη αν είναι νέκταρ των θεών …
thanks, esso! glad to see you out and about 🙂
At this point, the bookies have Man U (10/3) and Spurs (9/2) at ridiculously short odds to win the EL. We are third joint favourites with Ajax at 10/1, followed by AC Milan at 12/1 and Leicester and Vlllareal at 14/1. All better sides than Benfica by a long chalk.
Got a bit tense but enjoyed it mate!
noosa@12 thanks, it’s my favorite dan song, and with us going “home” to greece i couldn’t help but get creative. 🙂 there’s a rather big easter egg in the final paragraph, too…
esso, i look on the even brighter side. i found 43¢ and a book i’d lost while behind the couch…
What other football blog is so erudite that you need both a Greek dictionary and a copy of William Smith’s Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology to get through it? This is truly an educational establishment. Every time, you come here, you say, that’ll teach me!
Scruz@68: Is this the Easter Egg?
ned@81, indeed. or at least, it contains the same “egg” as it were.
So not this sort of shuffling, scruz:
scruz @74, Χε!
ned@83, indeed not…lol
That game encapsulates the concept of the ‘get out of jail card’. I think it has shortened my life. I need to lie down now.
baff@84, ευχαριστώ θεό για τη μηχανική μετάφραση …
Αληθώς 😎
If we hadn’t gifted them three goals in the tie it stands to reason we might have won more easily. Then there’s our disallowed goal.
bt8 @89.
Now that would have been no fun at all 😋
great song, baff@91, but no easter egg…
I wsn’t aiming for the easter egg, I was referring to our team tonight.
But, if I must:
And just to re-inforce the message, this cool piece of drumming:
yes. but still no one has commented on the griechland fc team that played so beautifully…
wondered what greichenland fc was
about but no idea about Steely Dan
so not likely to be any the wiser unless
you tell me scruz 😉
they have some connection to Germany?
The German for Greece is Griechenland. And Greece won the Euros in Portugal beating Portugal in the Final in Lisbon, which is where Benefica come from
These drinks are turning into a cross between a language lesson and Round Britain Quiz…
But we must be on for a ton.
Gabrielesque thump over the top to…
Now that I’ve had a few hours kip
to settle the nerves I can say that
was a good one to win. We owed
Benfica a sip from the bitter jug.
Pleased for the team who showed
some guts and for Mikel who got it
right and even for Willian who also
got something right. I expect the
knives would’ve been out if we’d lost
that one so I’m pleased for me too
as I won’t have to read a load of old
bollocks 😉
Oh, an inadvertent assist for….
Me!!! To take the plaudits😄
look at th video linked at griechenland in the first paragraph…circles back to the post…
and “home at last” is steely dan’s homage to the odyssean journey.
Well in O’Saka. That game deserves an extra slice of sushi.
Philosophers football! Another classic. Socrates’s header for the winner very similar to Auba’s winner today.
Well worked ton, OM. As tricky as anything TTG could have pulled off.
Thanks Ned.
As a reward I want a team that
we can actually play at home in
the next round.
Still, at least we’re coming home
with a morale booster of a win
and Leicester will be on a downer
of a home defeat
Morning everyone – is it safe to come out from behind the sofa now 😉
Despite our best efforts to contrive to lose, we overcame adiversity and snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat ( for a change ). Full credit to the team to not drop their heads and keep going right to the end.
There will be some interesting draws coming out of the hat later today in Nyon, let’s hope we avoid the neighbours and other British teams.
Well in for the ton OM though it appears self assists are becoming the norm of late – standards are dropping everywhere nowadays 🙂
Ah, but scruz @102, whereof the easter egg?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>