Well lovely Arsenal people, Arsenal made my visit to the UK that more enjoyable by being top of the league and beating Porto. The reward for going through in the CL, a reunion with a certain Harry Kane and a certain Bayern Munich.
Mikel Arteta has got us on this kind of redemption arc of banishing old demons and another one sits in front of us. That 10-2 still hurts, I can’t lie. The narratives are obvious – Harry Kane back at the Emirates, the history of this fixture, Thomas Tuchel again, but I’d like to believe it’ll be different.
It was a mismatch of strength last time, but we’ve been to the gym and we’ve bulked up. We were bullied, but many fans and pundits expect us to do the bullying this time around. The narrative is that we’re the better team now. Apart from Kane absolutely battering a league that usually has only one proper team in Bayern and occasionally another pretender like Leverkusen is now, there’s not much to fear.
But being the better team doesn’t mean you automatically win. Liverpool are far better than Man Utd, but they still lost in the cup. We may be the better team on paper, but the game is unfortunately played on grass, and the experience of Bayern cannot be underestimated.
They are a seasoned CL team, normally one of the favourites and they can play under pressure. Also, they don’t have much else to play for. Out of the cup, double digits behind Leverkusen, it’s CL or bust. Tuchel may be leaving, but he has won this competition, and I believe he got PSG to a final as well.
If one thing was learned in the games with Porto is that the CL is different. The game was much slower than some PL fixtures and we never really found that lightning tempo, which has helped us blitz teams away in the PL.
We’re also moving away from the surprise package team, to a team acknowledged for its excellence, now it’s time to deliver the trophies. I remember us being a mini-Barcelona, playing the best football and ultimately winning nothing, so we have to overcome the pressure of expectations.
The underdog mentality can only apply against Madrid or City, who will be the next challenge should we beat Bayern. But I’m relishing it! When we were schooled by Bayern all those years ago I thought “what’s the point of being in the CL when we have no chance of winning it”.
Now we’re back at the big table. I want a night out at the Bernabeu. I want another Henry moment. If we have to face City again, bring it on. We did them twice this year. Imagine our season if we hadn’t beaten Porto, with a trip to the Etihad coming. Another horrendous record sitting in front of us.
We definitely got the rough end of the draw, but it could be a good thing. We can’t relax. If you need extra motivation to play Bayern or Madrid, you shouldn’t be at Arsenal football club. Also, the season won’t end in March if we lose at the Etihad, because there is still more to play for. I think winning breeds more hunger to win again, and at this stage of the season playing more games is good rather than bad.
Watching United v Liverpool yesterday made me feel bad that we dropped out of the cups so early. What an epic game. There are only 4 trophies a team can win in a season, which is not that much considering how many good teams there are in this league alone.
We’re still going for the 2 big ones, but every game from now on is must-win in the league as history has shown us that Liverpool and City can win at all costs. To be honest this is why I’m a football fan – to dream. To be in those tight races, big games. I see Haaland and Saka on sky banners with “race for the title” headlines.
That said, Arsenal are kings of gassing me up, to then carcrash the end of the season like the past 2 campaigns. The jump from being the nearly men to champions requires that extra 5 percent in each game. The margins are so small, yet the gap so big.
Game by game, that’s the only way we should be going about it. Get the job done one at a time and see where we are in May.
Konstantin
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Well put Konstantin,there is no reason at all to fear anyone at this stage.This players have a great opportunity to prove their worth to the world and I hope to see them shine.
Hopefully no more injuries from the international break as we need everyone fit for the run in.
G.Jesus and Partey must quickly come to speed with the rest by upping their game,their form may determine if we will win something or nothing.
I would be disappointed if we didn’t progress against Bayern. The bookmakers have us as favourites to go through and second favourites to win it. I think we win the battle in midfield and we have the cbs to physically challenge Kane and both white and Kiwior/Tomi are physically above Sane and Gnabry. Bayern aren’t Porto and they will try and get at us leaving them more exposed to our style or play. I’m predicting 3-1 at home 2-2 in Munich.
Bayern are favorites to go through by most. Bayern is experience in this competition gives them the nod and I agree
Says who ?, this draw could be just what the doctor ordered for this hungry outfit
I have to smile when I read how hard the draw is because we have to beat Bayern and then, possibly RM!!
Yet this hard luck story never featured in our previous CL campaigns and the fact that we regularly drew Bayern and Barca in the knockout stages wasn’t seen as a hard luck story.
Anyway on to MA’s task ahead and I think the God’s have been good to us.
We are taking on a struggling Bayern side, who will be the only club without it’s supporters backing them up.
Those of us who have witnessed just how strong their away fans are, are loving the fact that thousands more Gooners will be able to drive our players on and I fully expect, what should be a 100% squad to pick from, to see us avenge those humiliating defeats under AW.
I have no idea who our semi final opponents will be, but, if it’s city, that monkey has been well and truly dismissed this season.
I agree with the small margins bit and I reckon that’s why Arteta changed GK’s as to see Raya maybe give one percent more than a Ramsdale, also Arteta replacing Partey with a fit Rice could give us a couple of extra percent compared to last season. You can see it with the set pieces too and throw-ins too, Arteta tries to gain the smallest of margins.
Me, I see Bayern and Arsenal as closely matched player for player. I do think we are defensively superior man for man hower beyond that I think we’re closely matched. Bayern’s recent history could play a part they have pedigree from being here often I expect us to be confident which could counter act their experience. I’m really looking forward to what should be an epic game
If we’ve got a tough draw so have Bayern, City and Madrid. It’s uncanny how many times we draw Bayern and City draw Madrid!! My preference is for an all English semi to ensure an EPL team in the final, hopefully us.
Not City as this can have repercussions on our league challenge. E.g say we lose a close tie to real in semi well it’s ok that we can go toe toe with the best teams. If its City then its once again us getting losing to them when it matters most.
No team ever got easy in the champion league, they are always force to reckon with especially at this stage of the league, agreed, they are struggling now, but in the champion league, they are different beast. they are the most consistence team in the champion league, hence, very dangerous
The agent for stopping Harry Kane is William Saliba. He did it twice last season, remember?
3-1 & 2-0. The only goal Harry scored was a light
weight penalty.
And if Gunners gonna go this time, it’s better against a team like Bayern than against PSG, Dortmund or Barca.