Arsene Wenger is hoping for a happy ending to his reign as Arsenal manager this season, but our opening leg result against Atletico may well have left us too big of a challenge to overcome.
The 1-1 home result leaves us having to travel to the Spanish capital on Thursday knowing that we have to score a goal to have any chance of qualifying for the next round, a feat that the majority of sides have failed to do in the Spanish domestic division, having conceded only four goals at La Peineta in their 17 La Liga matches thus far this term.
Despite the huge uphill task, Wenger is remaining upbeat as he aims to defeat Diego Simeone’s side before looking to lift the Europa League, the only competition we have a chance of winning this term, with that victory also needed to gain entry to next season’s Champions League.
“I’d like to finish my job well,” he said ahead of Arsenal’s second leg with Atletico Madrid, which is finely poised at 1-1.
“I believe as well, a man has to give his best as long as he is somewhere with all of his commitment and energy.
“I would like to walk out of Arsenal and think until the last day I focused only on Arsenal. When my job at Arsenal finishes I will see where I go from there but I want to finish this love story well.”
We witnessed first hand just how well-drilled and strong the Atleti are defensively, managing to deny us too many out-and-out goalscoring opportunities close to goal despite playing with a man less for 80 minutes of the match.
Will we be able to penetrate the organised Atletico backline? Can we upset the Spanish to give Wenger a shot at winning a European trophy with Arsenal in his final opportunity?
Pat J