By Tony Attwood
As we have noted, the Arsenal that played in the last two-thirds of the PSG game was different from the Arsenal that played in the first part of that match. The tactics changed, the confidence grew, tackles were won, territory gained and Arsenal dominated possession.
Now with a bit of luck, and with Partey playing, this tactic can be developed further. That combined with the way Odegaard changed his approach later should help Arsenal nullify PSG and then get the needed goals.
The prime disadvantage Arsenal have had this season is that of endless injuries across the team, which restricts specialist responses to specific teams. That run of injuries surely must be ending now, and this will see Arsenal progressing once more.
In short Arsenal need to play the game as they want, and stop PSG dictating play. And this should come as a surprise to PSG who are of course are used to dictating all games they play in their own league, which as we have noted before, they win year after year by massive margins.
Now this should be possible for Arsenal by responding to the way PSG play. – which because of the lack of competitive challenges in their League gives them something of a disadvantage. In short they don’t experience the domestic challenges that Arsenal experience when they play Liverpool, Manchester City, and occasionally Newcastle United and Chelsea.
Thus the Arsenal tactics can be adjusted and Saka can be liberated to cause havoc to the PSG defence that will, ultimately bring the goals. Also although of course, PSG will have details on how Miles Lewis-Skelley plays, they won’t have seen everything he can do, and that flexibility can again come to Arsenal’s benefit.
Meanwhile PSG have conceded 10 set-piece goals in Ligue 1 (six from corners), amounting to 30.35% of their total goals against. That’s by far the highest proportion in France and sixth-most in Europe’s biggest leagues.
In the home match however Arsenal only won three corners, and they will surely be playing in a way to increase this number, in tonight’s game. And most certainly, Arteta will be changing the tactical plan, angling for more free kicks and corners which they know are going to bring them the goals needed.
So with the reversion to more “English” tactics, and a change of approach for Odegaard, and with a change or two in the players involved from the start, this could go well for Arsenal.
Indeed just the fact that we will have Timber and Partey in the team things, it means things could well be different. We also have Calafiori and Merino available too.
The Metro have a team of:
Raya;
White Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly;
Odegaard, Partey, Rice;
Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Not everyone agrees. The Standard picks Timber instead of White and Merino instead of Trossard.
Moving on further we find that Sky Sports are over the top as ever saying “‘It’s a career-defining game for Arteta’s Arsenal’ which of course it isn’t because even if Arsenal lose that doesn’t stop them winning things next season, which would define his career. But even then, his career will be judged on the fact that he disassembled the team that he took over from Emery which was sinking towards relegation with every game.
NBC Sports who I don’t think we have quoted in this regard before, offer us the same line-up as the Standard.
Finally, Football London, always on the look-out for easy articles don’t give us a full team but run the headline “Odegaard dropped, Merino return, Timber starts – Arsenal Champions League line-ups vs PSG.” I suspect there is no full team layout because they don’t actually believe it themselves.
All things considered, I don’t think it is all over yet. But then, I’m not always right. As you may have noticed. But sometimes I am.
Off topic, sorry Tony, but while scanning WhoScored I noticed there are 8 20 goal scorers, total, in the 5 main European football leagues! The so- called journos are always screaming Arsenal should get a 20 goal scorer. Who? From what team? There are less than 2 per league FFS. Of the 8, how many want to leave? Want to come to Arsenal? Money? Fortunately for them, they don’t have to answer these questions with their careers in question.
Re the match, I say this every time, but if Arsenal come out on the front foot…….
COYG!
Gutted, but the better team lost. The better finishers won.
We created enough good opportunities to win tonight, and in fact at the Emirates as well, but the chances just keep going begging.
I am still proud of the boys. I still think we have one of, if not the best coach in the World.
Surely next season we cannot have the same injury problems?
Surely next season we cannot suffer the same PGMO abuse?
I think we will win the PL next season.
Unfortunately the match got away from us in the first 10 minutes. Had one gone in I think we would have won it. Same with Saka’s miss after 76 mins.
Lewis-Skelly has performed superbly but I felt tonight caught up with him physically. Just need a ruthless striker now.
Agree with Nitram and Lewis1950. All stats was in our favour except the one that mattered… the goals. We had enough chances to win this match and qualify for the final. A few individual errors with the goals cost us. Partey should have headed the ball to the touchline and not to the center of the penaly area for the first goal. And for the second goal another bad pass leading to the goal where Partey again probably could have done better by booting the ball away instead of trying to control it. Saka with one miss when it could have been 2-2… and for the rest the team with the best keeper won it in the end. Donaruma was just outstanding in the two legs….
Arsenal fans must feel very proud of the team tonight. A fantastic effort from al. Once again the PSG goalkeeper has given a top notch performance. PSG are a very good technical football team. Arsenal are also a very good team but perhaps lack some of the technical skills shown over the two legs from PSG.
I am very pleased with the overall effort shown by the team for most of the season. The last couple of months has been less successful than the success of the earlier part of the season. But then injuries have come home to roost.
Our journalistic neighbours, especially those from the northern shires, will be more than happy with this result….No doubt lampooning Mikel Arteta for not buying a centre forward…Manty will be hoping that Manchester United will show their quality by reaching the final of another lesser known European competition. I suppose any trophy is better than no trophy even if 14th in the league says more about seasonal performance. At least the Manchester Guardian (oops, I m showing my age – The Guardian ) will no doubt feature more of the rantings of Mr Ronay as to how poor Arsenal are and have been all season!
Again, well done Odegaard and company. I will continue following you and the team
Well done VAR for spotting a so-called fingertip handball and missing the odd foul in the PSG penalty area. Well done the referee for being allowed to retain his job with FIFA. Corruption still rules KO?
And well done PSG for emulating Manchester City by being owned by yet another democratic oligarchy, Qatar.
Do I sound bitter? Not really, sport is corrupt as corrupt can be….be it tennis, horse racing, football, boxing et all. But as a typical British hypocrite living in France, I shall continue to watch it
ankeha
I have to say I agree with almost every word.
It is not being bitter to state facts, or even just say it as you see it.
Yes, the usual suspects will jump on this and of course suggest winning something, anything, is better than CL qualification and a CL semi final, but I would take our season over that every day.
As I said above, I fully expect us to push on next season, and win the Premier League.
In the first leg the Slovenian referee was bad.
After Saka scored tonight, most of Zwayer’s decisions were awarded to PSG.
During today’s match, Čeferin was sat next to Al-Khelaifi. Cozy.
I see that “clear and obvious” is no longer relevant. VAR is re-refereeing matches.
Seismic, I also noticed that the ref suddenly gave us nothing anymore after Saka scored….
I did not watch the match last night as lasts weeks performance from referee Vincic made me realise that PSG were being engineered in to the UCL final.
I am amazed at the level of corruption that now exists at UEFA. As seismic pointed out VAR is now being used when the refs “feel like it will change things” and ignored when it “should be used”.
I do not watch any UEFA games anymore because of the appalling standard of refereeing – they are now at almost the low standard of the PIGMOB.
What is the betting that Oliver or Taylor get the final? We ALL know how “fair” those 2 are.