So here we are. Europa League football is back in N5 for the first time this calendar year. We take a 2-2 draw into the second leg, and now the widely debated away goals rule has been scrapped, it means effectively the tie is still 0-0. We have to score if we are to go through to the last eight. Alternatively, we could not score and keep out Sporting Lisbon and take them to extra time and if needs be, a penalty shootout. In its near seventeen years of existence the Emirates Stadium has never seen a penalty shootout. Hopefully tomorrow night doesn’t break that trend because it’s all a bit of a faff and we would all like to get home in our warm beds before midnight. And we have a far more important game on Sunday. Let’s just try to get through without any nosebleeds and papercuts and everyone will be happy.
Due to our rather unexpected title charge, the Europa League has taken more of a backseat this season than it has in the past. Previously it was viewed as a means of qualification for the “We Actually Didn’t Win Our Domestic League But We Need The Cash” Champions League. But with a top 4 finish all but a certainty, that hasn’t been the case. This has meant our Europa League fixtures have garnered less interest and enthusiasm from a lot of fans, not that there was much of that previously. We trundled through the group stages overcoming European giants such as FC Zurich and Bodø/Glimt, who are surely the only professional football club in the world with a bit of punctuation in the middle of their name. We won the group and thus avoided a ludicrous play-off with one of the Champions League rejects. Then in last week’s game out in the Portuguese capital, we stumbled to a draw. So, our European campaign thus far has offered little to write home about to say the least.
All of which begs the question; does anyone really care about winning this thing? There are arguments for both sides. An argument for could well be the fact that our cabinet is a little bare when it comes to European silverware. In terms of domestic success, we are very well fed and watered but all we have to show for our continental exploits is the 1970 Fairs Cup and the 1994 Cup Winners Cup. Both competitions have now been made redundant by UEFA although you can argue one of them has been replaced by the Europa League. Given we now have three European competitions, and one of them was created last season probably for a laugh, it’s entirely possible. And winning this year’s competition would repair at least some of the trauma of some of our near misses. There was the famous Nayim from the halfway line winner for Real Zaragoza in 1995 as we failed to retain the cup from the previous year. Apparently, every time a Spurs fan suffers from erectile dysfunction, they replay the goal on YouTube. Sad bunch. Then there was a traumatic loss on penalties to Galatasaray in the 2000 UEFA Cup final which was marred by crowd trouble between both sets of fans in Copenhagen. And of course, our only Champions League final appearance to date ended in heartbreak in the Parisian rain against our old nemesis, Barcelona. But we saved the best for the 2019 Europa League final when a spineless Arsenal side collapsed in the second half against Chelsea. Sprinkle in seven consecutive UCL Last 16 exits and our record on the continent is pitiful to say the least. We have had far too little European success on the continent for a club of our magnitude. Perhaps it is high time we put an end to that.
However, more cynical Gooners might say, a first league title in nearly twenty years is more important. Can we juggle both domestic and European exploits in what could be a pivotal and congested run in? In fairness, up to this point we have managed this. Immediately following our seven Europa League matches this season, our record stands at won six, drawn 1, lost 0. So that does indicate we possess the depth to compete on both fronts. However, as we venture deeper into the competition, we are inevitably going to face sterner competition than we have so far. If you have a semi-final against Juventus on the Thursday and a pivotal clash at Newcastle on the Sunday, with the league in sight, which one do you prioritise? I think most would say the league but from Arteta’s selections so far, he wants both. For us peasants in the stands and behind our sofas at home, we are just praying for no injuries. But personally, I would trust Arteta to get the balance just right.
As for our opponents we should expect another physical and tactical battle as we saw last week. We will have to watch out for diminutive forwards, such as Marcus Edwards, on the transition and also we will have to be on our A-game to break them down which we struggled to do in parts last Thursday. Sporting will be without former Liverpool centre back, Sebastian Coates, and centre half partner Morita due to suspension whilst we have a clean bill of health for everyone bar Elneny and Nketiah. As for the team selection, most will be hoping to see Gabriel Jesus from the start but I think this is unlikely. What we have heard from the club is that Jesus will be eased back to full fitness with the aid of 15-20 minute cameos off the bench. Sunday’s first half display at Fulham provided us with the perfect opportunity to do just that and it has to be said, the Brazilian did look sharp as a needle. That said, I would be surprised to see him from the start. I think the team will be something approaching this:
Turner
Tomiyasu — Saliba — Kiwior — KT
Xhaka — Jorginho
Viera
Saka — Nelson
Trossard
That would come to seven changes from the weekend, and we would still be able to field a very able side. Perhaps we will see ESR on the left and Nelson on the right, but I think that if Arteta started Saka in the first leg, he would repeat the trick in the second. I will be in attendance for this one and I am expectant of a solid performance and a big atmosphere on a European night in N5. I am going for a 2-0 victory with goals from Trossard and Nelson. COYG!!
Great preview, 21CG.
I hope that Turner and Kiwior have better games than they did in Lisbon. If they don’t we might again struggle but if they can show the form that led us to sign them then we should beat Sporting. They both need game time so I have no issue starting them.
I personally would like to see Saka rested for this game. He has been below par in his last couple of games and looked knackered before he was subbed in the latter stages at Craven Cottage. Moreover, in an interview this week, he stated that he just wanted to sleep over the summer. If that’s not a player in need of a break, I’m a non-flying Dutchman! If MA8 ignores that evidence, he’s not the man I think he is. We now have ESR capable of at least 45 minutes, a fit Leo Trossard and a fit Reiss Nelson in need of a contract or a job offer somewhere good. Martinelli looks to be revived with the addition of Leo and we have a hungry Jesús to add to the mix. We don’t need to break Bukayo in this competition. If we can’t beat Sporting at our place without Saka we don’t deserve to win this competition.
I’ll be there too (after a nice Italian dinner) through a piece of eventual good fortune in the execrable Arsenal Box Office where the management of ticketing has totally screwed Silver Members this season. Sort it out, Arsenal.
COYG
Nice preview 21CG. I tend to agree with Bath that Saka should be rested.
Bath, the usual venue tomorrow night, I presume? From memory their Nero d’Avola was more than serviceable. Enjoy.
Certo che si!
Molto bene! Salut’!
Really appetising preview 21CG which outlines the dilemma Arteta faces very well. I made my feelings very clear on the relative importance of the two competitions . Basically I’d like us win both but there is no comparison between the two prizes and nothing must interfere with our pursuit of the league .
I like your team but believe that Trossard and ESR will start and Jesus will get a bigger stint than last time out . Sporting looked lively last week but we should beat them 2-0 or 3-0 .
The lack of penalty shootouts at The Emirates has both positive and negative sides, as I dislike them intensely but on the other hand if we had had some of them already it would mean that we had done better in the later stages of competitions such as this one. I’m hoping for Saka to get a rest, Reiss to star in his absence and for the Gunners to go through. Thanks 21cg for an excellent preview. Enjoy the game!
Thanks 21CG, a fine preview. I will be very happy to say goodbye to this stupid,mostly pointless competition next season. The group stages are a complete waste of time though the last 16 is a better level to be fair. I do understand that it’s a good chance to give the squad some game time, earns the club some money, provides an opportunity for clubs from smaller leagues etc etc etc. Ouruboric bollocks.
My grumpily made point being that the PL is more important, I think I will go and have my morning coffee. See if I can be a bit more positive after that…..
Good going, 21CG. Arteta doesn’t like losing at anything. He’ll field a team he thinks strong enough to win.
I can only remember one penalty shootout at Highbury and I saw it. In fact I grew a beard during it as it was a marathon. It was Cesc Fabregas’s first start so it woukd have been in 2004 and it was against Rotherham. We really played raw lads then , some were so young I thought their Mum’s might bring their pyjamas on to get ready for bed . But they all stepped up and whacked the ball home . The only Arsenal miss was by Sylvain Wiltord who was the official penalty-taker ! The penalties went round completely and he potted the winner ! Our keeper was Graham Stack who took a terrific penalty himself
Having smelled the coffee I think our XI will be similar to one suggested by 21CG though I’d guess that Rob / Gabriel will be the CBs to give William a rest. I’d like ESR to start but don’t think he will. Without their regular centre backs I don’t see why we can’t get at them early and win this one 4-0.
Eddie will be out for a few more weeks it seems. Injured by the Everton oaf in the final few minutes when they’re losing 4-0. Very annoying but I hope Eddie will be back in time for the merry month of May.
Excellent preview 21CG! If I were Arteta I would start with the team you chose as well, but I am not Arteta and as others have mentioned he may want to be more certain about a win and start a bit stronger team.
I wonder if he wouldn’t choose to start with Martin tomorrow given Ødegaard’s ability to help retain control of the midfield while orchestrating the attack. And instead giving Saka — who has started to look a bit tired, unsurprisingly— a breather and start Vieira on the right. Kiwior definitely would feel more confident with a more traditional minded KT on his left to calm his nerves, though he did dovetail well enough for the most part with Zinchenko in Lisbon.
We would need to be more judicious and cool headed about when and how to build play from the back compared to the first leg where we didn’t handle their high press that well. Hopefully we would wrap up the match early enough to give Jesus and ESR more playing time.
Come on Arsenal!
Great preview, cheers 21CG!
Keenos on https://shewore.com makes a very important observation:
As a result of our absence from European competition last season, Arsenal’s co-efficient has crashed and we would be in Pot 3 of next season’s CL draw and face two strong teams in our group. If we were to win the Europa League we would be in Pot 1 and avoid the strongest teams in the Group Stage. A semi-final exit might be enough to put us into Pot 2 so progress in the Europa League would be very useful for next season’s CL campaign.
Unquestionably, MA8 will know this.
Go win, Arsenal.
I’d like to win it! (My original notion now reinforced by Bath @14 – good spot young man). And, of course, win the League.
We made Sporting look much better than they are in Lisbon. Six changes made our team look like they’d rarely played together. Had we played our A team the tie would be over now.
I’d start the team that started at Fulham (absent Bukayo – Martinelli on the right ESR on the left). At 4-0 at HT I’d bring on those who need game time. Vieira, Xhaka, Jorginho MF doesn’t have the creativity to make it 4-0 at HT.
Ticketing has been a huge issue this season, including for regulars viewers and contributors to this blog. The Arsenal Supporters Trust recently held a Q&A with members of the ticketing team and there’s loads of good information in it. It is over an hour long, but worth the investment if you are interested in the topic.
Six reasons why we need to win tonight
Six reasons Arsenal must look to progress tonight
I didn’t exactly recall this in detail but apparently we have a stellar defensive record at home in this competition so far this season. This from UEFA: “Arsenal have won three out of three at home in Europe this season, keeping three clean sheets in the process.”
Hoping that record continues this evening.
Agree with Keenos, BtM and the others who said it’s important for us to win the Europa League trophy. And the Premier League trophy too lest I forget. 😎
Mot to lose sight of the difficulty of the task at hand, UEFA also report that Sporting are on a five-match winning run away from home, and defeated Boavista (not sure how difficult that part was) at the weekend by 3-0 at home.
mot = not
COYG
Spanish referee with recent history of handing out a lot of yellow cards to referee tonight.
https://talksport.com/football/1361928/antonio-mateu-lahoz-referee-lionel-messi-world-cup-arsenal-sporting-lisbon-europa-league/amp/
Incoming red card for Granit, bt8?
As for ‘mot’, that is on Monday for me 😉
Cheers 21CG!
I wanna win. Already got my flight to and AirB&B for 5 days in Budapest booked and paid for! (going anyway if we don’t get there – got an old mate who lives out there to catch up with)
amsdale, Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Xhaka, Vieira, Martinelli, Nelson, Jesus
He is fully risen!
Arsenal: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Xhaka, Vieira, Martinelli, Nelson, Jesus
Subs: Turner, Hillson, Tierney, White, Partey, Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Kiwior, Holding, Trossard
Have a great trip Esso whether it includes the final or not. Hoping it does so you can give us an eyewitness account!
Kiwior injured? Not even on the bench.
@bt8
He’s a great mate from the old days. Reckons he can fix me a match ticket so here’s hoping! Even so will be a few quality days by the Danube whatever happens. Only thing is when I booked it up (last December) was just after Jesus had got injured, so wasn’t really thinking we’d be in title race in May. So – just when we’re kicking off against Wolves, I’ll be checking in at Gatwick! Really hoping we’ll have confirmed it before that. Home to Brighton would be good, as just managed to get a ticket for that this week.
Strong team. Looks good.
@29 Esso
Kiwior is on the bench in your team list @27!
Too many tinnies!
Interesting line-up!
Not far off our strongest line up, MA as good as his word that we’re going for this
COYGS !
Slow start, and Tomi already off injured. Hope it’s not too bad.
1-0 half time, and a good finish from Xhaka. A couple of players down however.
Hopefully Saliba was just a precaution.
Sporting still in it and it’d be good if we can get a goal early 2nd half
to set them back a bit
Gane still in the balance but it’s good to have Thomas, Bukayo and Martin available if needed. Come on Trossard.
1-1 freak goal
Though I suppose some will give the bloke credit for a piece of skill
The Calvary is on…well Saka and TP5
Extra-time, didn’t really want that
120 minutes and 2 injuries 3 days before an important game. I hope this doesn’t come back to bite Arteta.
Where’s the fucking away goals rule when you need it
Was thinking the same OM, we were screwed for years on that bloody rule
Every so often a keeper has a blinder against us
Yeah we were, soon as it goes out.,.,
Penalties then
Pisser. Dirty cunts. Bent ref.
Win the league
I blame it on Kim K being on the stands 🙂
What OM said @50
I blame on the drummer personally. I hope him/her and the knobhead who bangs at Palace try to outdo each other so badly that they dislocate their shoulders, elbows and wrists so badly, they’re permanently unable to so much as eat a Pot Noodle, let alone ruin any more games with their clatter. 🙂
Sunday was always all that mattered anyway. League games only now, as it should be when you are trying to win the one trophy that really counts.
Nightmare journey, nightmare match, nightmare result .
I think my ambivalence to this competition is well known but you have to play a competitive team. Arteta did a good job in trying to balance things out
If you’d switched the goalkeepers we’d have won comfortably but the BIG concern is Saliba If we lose him we will really suffer this season.
Sporting were much better than I thought they were .
Has Ramsdale ever saved a penalty for anyone ? A couple of their ones were very saveable. Onwards and upwards. I’m in complete agreement with Cynic although I don’t notice the drummer
Wholly agree with TTG in terms of my ambivalence towards the Europa League. Can’t agree that Turner would have made the difference though. Sporting were a very good side. If we had been able to play a full first team I think we’d have won comfortably. But these were no mugs and the mix and match policy, which I still think was the right approach, albeit with not enough mixing for me, just didn’t work. The tie reminded me of the ones against Benfica in the old European Cup back in ‘91. We’d just won the league, English clubs were back in Europe and we fancied ourselves. Managed a draw out in Lisbon which was hard earned. Took them back to Highbury and got an absolute roasting. An indication of the level above to which we will need to go next season in order to get through CL group stages, if indeed we qualify (everything crossed).
CER
I was reminded of that Benfica ame . That game changed George’s philosophy andwe had midfields with Hillier, Shelley , Jensen and McGoldrick etc.Lets hope tye same doesn’t happen to Arteta ! After all Johnny Jensen is nearly 60 now !
If there are big debates they might be about players . This game underlined just how good Partey and Odegaard are and I thought Gabriel was superb. Vieira has certainly got the jury out on him and I’m a little sceptical about Ramsdale as a keeper although he is the best rush goalie I’ve ever seen .
I admit I went to sleep when extra time started as I was feeling exhausted, and really didn’t feel it. Injuries/extra-time/elimination, it really was the worst case scenario.
Fingers crossed for the Saliba injury not being too bad (Tomi seems like it is bad, not much hope there). Now we have to forget last night and focus on the league.
11 finals.
To abuse the phrase of a former Home Secretary – Tough on McGoldrick. Tough on the causes of McGoldrick! And as the song went, I was there when Jensen scored! He really was a lemon among the oranges.
Vieira as you say was peripheral, which is a concern given the opposition, with whom he should be familiar.
I thought Sporting had some very good players. Diomande at centre half could well be worth a look. But when Trincao, who did nothing at Wolves last year, can look like a world beater it’s pretty dispiriting.
When I first saw McGoldrick play at Highbury, I thought he was great. Not that I remember his performance, just the simple association of ‘Arsenal player’=’great’ 🙂
Paddy sacked on St Patrick’s Day. And just before we play Palace….
CER
I’ve just realised I did not make myself clear . I was suggesting that if the Sporting keeper had been in goal for us and Ramsdale for them we would have won it. I agree Turner wouldn’t have made any difference
>>>>>>>