EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL PREVIEW: Atletico Madrid v Arsenal; Won or Done?
All we’re left to think about tonight is whether or not, Atletico Madrid v Arsenal will be another “valiant effort” for Arsenal or a true turning around to get into the Europa Cup final in France. If I could gauge the feelings of most Arsenal fans, I think I know where they would fall.
We’ve been down this road before. Away to Barcelona, Home to Milan, Bayern matches galore. We’ve seen the film, we know the story and you’d forgive us all if we’re all feeling the same.
In the first leg, Arsenal had it all their way but could only manage a measly single goal. With 11v10 for 80 minutes, they simply didn’t have them in themselves to find more than the single goal we scored. And as expected after not being able to do much against a team like Atletico we had to go an let them score a late away goal.
Now let’s put this challenge into context as easily as we can. Arsenal are travelling to a stadium where the home side has not conceded a single goal in 11 matches. They’ve lost a total of 3 times in their home since September. Oh, should we add on the fact that away from home, Arsenal have managed 0 points in the league in 2018.
Add that all together and you’d forgive me for not being overly buoyant about our chances. However, like any fan I believe. And I know that on its day if Arsenal show up, we have enough talent in this side to win this and move on.
The best news we could get was that Henrikh Mikhitaryan is back. In the last leg I opined that what we lacked was Mikhi running at the Atletico Madrid back line when we where in the final third. Forcing them back a little could’ve forced new spaces to open up. Additionally, it would have likely resulted in Atletico to account not only for Mesut Özil’s creativity but Mkhi’s movement and skill as well.
No offence to Iwobi but he wasn’t cutting it and his passing decisions made us predictable and allowed Madrid to focus in on taking Mesut of our system. The Atletico midfield got compact and tucked in letting Iwobi have the width and forced him to make passes which he wasn’t good at.
Now we’re changing that up (hopefully.)
Where we might experience some success now that Mkhi is back is in the gaps between the full backs and center backs, as Atletico can be exposed with forward runs into these spaces (see graphic below) – something Mkhi can exploit. Of the 8 goals Atletico have conceded in Europe, 7 are from crosses.
But let’s not forget – while they are known for their defensive prowess – their attacking talent isn’t something to ridicule either.
Simeone will identify where he thinks Arsenal’s weakness is and set up his team to attack there. Look for Diego Costa to be running the gaps between the two Center Backs (Mustafi and Koscielny.)
Though at home we might see them play a more direct style. Against Lokomotiv Moscow in the last 16, their three goals at home all came from 3 passes only.
The fact is, we have an amazing challenge ahead of us all because of a stupid goal we conceded in the waning minutes of the match.
Its not impossible but we aren’t making it easy on ourselves.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal. Henrikh Mikhitarayn. He’s the antedote we need to breaking the rigid defensive structure of Ateltico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid. Diego Costa. If you don’t remember him, he used to score against us, a lot.
Probable Lineups:
Arsenal (4-3-3): Ospina; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Xhaka, Ramsey, Özil; Welbeck, Lacazette, Mkhitarayan
Subs: Cech, Wilshere, Mertesacker, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Nketia, Holding, Iwobi
Atletico Madrid (4-4-2): Oblak; Lucas, Godin, Gimenez, Thomas; Vitolo, Koke, Gabi, Saul; Costa, Griezmann
Subs: Werner, Filipe, Savic, Olbae, Correa, Torres, Gamerio
What the Manager Says (Courtesy Arsenal.com)
“There is always a part of tension, as well with the experience I have there is uncertainty about football that creates the tension. That is normal. What you want is to help your team to have much certainty as possible, and belief. But of course in the game [between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich] we have seen it can go on both sides. That makes football great as well because it is unpredictable.”
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Cazorla (match fitness), Elneny (knee), Aubemayang (inelligble)
Atletico Madrid:
Juanfran (knee), Vrsaljko (suspended)
Match Officials:
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (ITA)
Assistant Referees: Elenito Di Liberatore, Mauro Tonolini (ITA)
Fourth Official: Alessandro Costanzo (ITA)
Additional Assistant Referees: Paolo Valeri, Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)
Broadcast Information:
UK: BT Sport 20.05 GMT
US: FS1 3:00 PM EST
Match Facts (Courtesy UEFA.com)
- Arsenal dominated the first leg following Atlético full-back Šime Vrsaljko’s early dismissal for a second yellow card. However, it was not until just after the hour that Alexandre Lacazette headed Wenger’s team in front. Further Gunners attacks were quelled by a characteristically obdurate Atlético defence, and on 82 minutes Antoine Griezmann levelled against the run of play.
- Arsenal and Atlético had never met in UEFA competition prior to the first leg, though the Gunners did beat their Spanish opponents 2-1 at home in the 2009 pre-season Emirates Cup.
- Atlético’s record in 28 matches against English clubs is W10 D12 L6, and they have been victorious in seven of their nine two-legged knockout contests, including each of the last three; only Derby County (1974/75 UEFA Cup) and Bolton Wanderers (2007/08 UEFA Cup) have eliminated them. At home they have lost just once in 12 visits from English clubs – 1-2 against Chelsea in this season’s UEFA Champions League group stage in what was their first European game in the Estadio Metropolitano.
- The Gunners have won only ten of their 32 UEFA competition matches against teams from Spain, losing 14. On Spanish soil their record is W2 D3 L9, with no wins coming in their last seven visits (D2 L5) since a 1-0 victory at Real Madrid in the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League round of 16.
- Arsenal have also lost on neutral terrain against Spanish clubs in three out of three European finals – the 1979/80 European Cup Winners’ Cup to Valencia in Brussels (on penalties after a 0-0 draw), the 1994/95 European Cup Winners’ Cup to Real Zaragoza in Paris (1-2 aet) and the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League to Barcelona in Saint-Denis (1-2).
- The London club have won five of their nine two-legged UEFA ties with Liga opposition but have lost each of the last three – all to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. Their one previous semi-final against Spanish opponents did end in success, a 1-0 aggregate win over Villarreal in 2005/06 (1-0 home, 0-0 away) taking them into their first – and as yet only – European Cup/UEFA Champions League final.
