Morning all.
A fast Saturday round-up for you, beginning with the Champions League draw that noticed us paired with a well-known foe: Bayern Munich. We focus on it at size within the newest Arsecast, however some transient ideas right here.
I believe it’s an thrilling tie, for every kind of causes. Even when Bayern aren’t working away with the Bundesliga for as soon as, it’s not as in the event that they’re a horrible staff swiftly. They’ve had some struggles, little question about it, however you additionally should acknowledge that Bayer Leverkeusen are having a rare marketing campaign to take a seat 10 factors clear on the high of the desk, with out having misplaced a recreation but.
Nonetheless, Bayern Munich have scored 73 targets of their 25 video games (10 greater than Leverkusen), and while you take a second to look by way of their squad, it’s full of gamers of the very best high quality. And likewise Harry Kane. His presence shall be a giant a part of the narrative round these ties, for apparent causes, but it surely’s as much as us to make sure that his first season in Germany ends in European disappointment earlier than he goes on to select up his trophy for high scorer within the Bundesliga which, as everyone knows by now, is – considerably hilariously – a cannon.
This isn’t the identical Bayern who beat us 5-1 twice in a row, but it surely’s additionally not the identical Arsenal. We lack expertise at this degree, and that’s one thing we shouldn’t gloss over. I believe it was evident within the Porto ties, and it’s a part of the problem we’ll face going into the 2 video games right here. That is the place we need to be although, and pound for pound I believe we’ve obtained the standard to present it a extremely good go. The ‘revenge’ facet is one thing that I believe we’ll expertise as followers, however perhaps not a lot the gamers. They’re distinct from these heavy defeats, however I believe we’ll all be eager to make up for the way in which these video games went.
The primary leg is at house on April ninth, and Bayern followers are banned from attending by UEFA due to an incident with fireworks being thrown onto the pitch of their recreation towards Lazio. Which means the Emirates shall be 100% Arsenal (past the inevitable company component and the occasional German interloper). The second leg in Munich takes place on April seventeenth, and our reward – ought to we make progress – is a semi-final towards the winner of Actual Madrid v Man Metropolis. Clearly I hope that’s Madrid, not as a result of I believe it’d be ‘simpler’ however I can’t clarify how a lot I hate dealing with English opposition in Europe – the scars of earlier encounters simply haven’t healed correctly. Additionally, I need to see a Pep fuming after a scandalous refereeing resolution is sufficient to see Actual by way of and he involves the realisation that there nonetheless are some issues cash can’t purchase.
Going again to Bayern for a sec, I believe that Mikel Arteta shall be on the cellphone to his pal Xabi Alonso for some recommendation. Leverkusen drew 2-2 in Munich earlier within the season, and beat them 3-0 at house a number of weeks in the past. We’re coming into the period of Basque dominance, and hopefully this connection is a helpful one for us within the build-up.
The European fixture checklist has additionally impacted the Premier League, as our recreation towards Aston Villa which was on account of happen on Saturday April thirteenth will now be performed on Sunday 14th (Villa are in Europa League motion on the Thursday). Arsenal have already stated that it is going to be rescheduled for the 4.30pm kick off, however we await official affirmation of that. I believe it’s pretty sure to be the case although, in case you’re making journey plans and so forth.
Lastly, it was a disappointing night time final night time for Arsenal Ladies, dropping 3-1 to Chelsea, a end result which is a giant blow to the staff’s WSL title possibilities. Tim has all of the response and so forth over on Arseblog Information.
Proper, let’s depart it there for this morning. Have an important Saturday on an Arsenal free weekend. Extra tomorrow, till then.
