Gabriel could help Arsenal overturn Monaco by Sam P
I know that I am right at the highly optimistic end of the scale of Arsenal fans and I know that the team´s hopes of making it to a first Champions League quarter-final in four years are hanging by a thread by the shocking performance against Monaco at the Emirates in the first leg.
But you should never give up in football. PSG proved that once again last night as they overcame all the odds and knocked Chelsea out of Europe. Bradford also did it against Jose Mourinho and his team after going two goals down at Stamford Bridge this season.
It tends to happen more often in cup competitions and so I don´t think that Arsene Wenger will have given up, even though he may not be feeling very confident. The fact is that we might as well go for it in Monaco and one thing the first leg did show was that we can create good chances against the French side.
On another night, Giroud could have had a hat-trick and we would be sitting pretty. As it is, we have to create chances again and score them this time. But just as vital is stopping them scoring on the counter attack so the news that Gabriel is not going to be out for as long as thought and is due back in training anytime now could turn out to be crucial.
The Brazilian defender has not been out long so does not need to regain fitness and so he could play on Tuesday. And he has experience in Europe, having played eight Europa League games for Villarreal this season before signing for Arsenal. If we can keep a clean sheet and take our chances, who knows what surprises there could be in store?