Arsenal NEED to Score First ….and Early!

UEFA Champions League: Can Arsenal pull off what looks like an improbable proposition against AS Monaco? by SE

Arsenal have an uphill task on their hands to qualify for the quarterfinals of this season’s UEFA Champions League, as they need to score at least 3 goals to have any smidgen chance of overcoming an AS Monaco side that won by a huge margin of 3-1 in the first leg at the Emirates last month.

The Gunners were the second-most in-form side in the Barclays Premier League and were expected to better the Ligue 1 side when the round of 16 draw was made in December, 2014. However, as a result of a few defensive lapses in the first leg, Arsene Wenger’s men conceded 3 away goals that have put Monaco in pole position to win the tie. Can the North Londoners, however, pull off an unimaginable result?

At a similar stage in this competition a couple of years ago, Bayern Munich won 3-1 in the first leg at the Emirates and Arsenal were given zero chance of qualifying. Whether it was complacency from the Bavarians or pure brilliance from Arsenal, the Gunners managed to keep a clean sheet and level the tie by scoring 2 goals at the Allianz Arena. However, having conceded 3 goals at their own den, Wenger’s wizards needed to score again on the night, which was always going to be tough. Going into tonight’s return leg at the Stade Louis ll stadium, Arsenal need a similar performance but have got to go one better and score that third goal this time around.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s absence due to his hamstring injury is a huge blow to the North Londoners, whose only goal in the first leg was scored by the Englishman. However, Wenger has got a good squad that is sitting pretty in 3rd place on the Barclays Premier League table, and the likes of Mesut Ozil, Santiago Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud, to name a few, have to turn up on the night and produce their best performances.
Arsenal have been good while playing away in the Premier League this season, except for their derby defeats to Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. Wenger’s side has won at both the Manchester Clubs, in different competitions, and both those victories were built on the back of good defensive displays.

Defending has been Arsenal’s Achilles heel in recent seasons, and the Mertesacker-led backline hasn’t played to potential whenever they have been asked to perform under pressure. If the North Londoners are to have a chance of qualifying for the last 8 from the position they are in against Leonardo Jardim’s side, their rearguard simply has got to come good. They scored 3 goals against West Ham United at the Emirates last weekend, and their attack force was at its incisive best. They would have to produce a similar or better offensive performance against Monaco, who could also emphasize on defending and hitting the Gunners on the break.

Wenger’s men, however, have to guard against any naivety that they have exhibited on a fair few occasions this season, when they have over-attacked and committed too many men forward while trailing at home to Manchester United in the league and in the first leg of this champions league tie. 90 minutes is an awful lot of time to score 3 goals and, as long as Arsenal do the basics right, they are capable of putting tonight’s hosts under pressure and feed off whatever little panic that might set in as, if and when tonight’s visitors score that first goal.

Nobody is giving Arsenal a chance of qualifying after their horror defensive show in the first leg of this R-16 tie, However, if the Gunners can play with vitality and translate their domestic form from Saturday, there is no reason why they still cannot give themselves a chance of qualifying from what looks an improbable position.

Suhith

Tags Monaco Ozil Sanchez

10 Comments

  1. #keepTheFaith that 5-1 win aginst inter after losing 3-0 at home, remember?? #coyg we can do it.

  2. We have absolutely no excuse for not going at Monaco hammer and tong tonight. I wouldn’t be against having Walcott, Sanchez and Welbeck on from the start for some serious pace. Leave Giroud til later if we need to send long balls into the box. Cazorla and Ozil to provide killer balls. It is still a possibility for progressing.

  3. I know it is very difficult to qualify for next round in CL but if you ask me

    1. Scoring 4 goals at bernabeu
    2. Playing with 10 men and specially when your main striker is sent off at stamford bridge and still qualify for QF.

    above two are also look impossible but still Schakle and PSG have done that. So even it looks difficult but it is not impossible to score 3 goals against side who has just conceded 2 goals in last 11 league matches.

    We should not loose hope, it is do or die situation and players should play at their best and then if we still doesn’t qualify then I wont have regret. COYG!!!!!!!!!!

  4. I presume that Monaco wont throw more than three to four men forward at too many stages, Bayern only have one way they play so it was easier to execute a game plan. Expect a totally different type game than that one.

    Also.. i dont think we can play a counter attacking game as wed have to allow them the time and ball in order to coax them up field.

    If we were at home i would expect a similar type game than the one against wham. However, i still expect we gain good possession but it depends on how often we can get in between the lines Ozil Sanchez Cazorla territory and with fullbacks overlapping. If we play to our best in that territory from those players we know we can score goal(s). Next absolute must is the main striking target, i say target because Cazorla Ozil Sanchez must get him in in good areas… then its down to no wastefulness pleaze. If we can do that as well as we know we can… well thats why im confident, a sort of apprehensive confidence if such a thing. ie Napoli Munich Manchester Dortmund we know we can be deadly… Come On You Gunners.

  5. AESENAL HAS OVERCOME EVEN 3 GOALS DEFICIT IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BEFORE!!
    History may show that coming from back from three goals down in Champions league is almost impossible but arsenal one of the very few teams to have done it. Remember Arsenal lost 0-3 at home to Inter Milan in 2003 and then went to the San Siro to beat inter 1-5, scoring three goals in the last five minutes – one goal more than we needed to qualify!!
    For those who are too young to remember here is the Youtube link of the goals:

  6. It’s over, we have no chance. Only a WC team can grip victory from the jaws of defeat. Unfortunately we ain’t wc.

    We have no leaders, just a bunch of sheep following each othe. off the cliff.

    2-1 to Monaco

  7. hahahahahaha , talk about blind faith ! , i fear some of you loud over optimistic children might just be shedding some tears after this match . we are not good enough , monaco caught us out , end of !.

  8. We have to be realistic about this I think this is a mountain to far. The damage was done by the lack of commitment in the first game. I think the champions league is over for another year, I hope I am proved wrong but the damage has been done.

  9. @mike that will be serial killer puposeful attacking formation non stop until free kicks n penalty happen

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