Morning all, has everybody recovered from Tuesday?
I wouldn’t blame you should you haven’t. I had a lot adrenaline coursing via my veins once I acquired house from the Emirates that regardless of being shattered once I hit the hay simply after 1 am, I discovered myself staring on the ceiling reliving the angst and pleasure of all of it for an additional couple of hours.
Having been pissed off when the Chelsea sport – initially scheduled for this Saturday – was postponed, I admit, it now appears like a blessing. I would like the break, so god is aware of how the gamers really feel. Mikel Arteta hasn’t rotated his beginning lineup that a lot in the previous couple of weeks and there are gamers within the squad who have to be working on fumes. Judging by Martin Odegaard’s feedback, that’s certainly the case.
In his post-game media huddle, he stated:
“I believe you noticed a variety of drained gamers on the market however they stored on pushing us and we acquired there ultimately collectively, so it’s a tremendous feeling. In the intervening time it [the break] feels good. I’m so drained. I believe we’d like just a few days to recuperate every now and then we’re going to concentrate on Man Metropolis after the break. Numerous gamers are going away now for the worldwide break after which we’ll come again and we’ll carry on pushing then.”
I think about there was a restoration session at London Colney yesterday afternoon, maybe a fast debrief, after which the gamers had been advised to go house and put their ft up. We are able to solely hope these referred to as up by their international locations are handled sensibly within the subsequent couple of weeks.
Wanting forward, our qualification to the Champions League quarter-finals means we’re dealing with an actual fixture pile-up on our return. Our showdown with Manch115ter Metropolis on 31 March begins a run of six video games in 17 days. After that, issues are a bit up within the air. Our journey to Wolves on 20 April shall be off if Gary O’Neill’s aspect beats Coventry within the FA Cup on Saturday, nevertheless, earlier than we get excited a few respectable break between European motion and the North London derby on 27 April, it’s probably the postponed Chelsea sport shall be squeezed into the schedule midweek forward of the sport at Sp*rs.
In his post-Porto press conference, Arteta was requested how qualifying for the quarter-finals will have an effect on the remainder of the season. Whereas he’s delighted to progress, his reply reveals an apparent concern; preparation time shall be tight.
“In case you are out, you assume one much less competitors, we will concentrate on the league, extra time to arrange for video games however now the power that it brings amongst the squad, amongst the membership it’s actually highly effective.”
After Inter (Alexis Sanchez bringing disgrace on the Home of Atom & Humber) and PSV had been dumped out final night time, all eyes flip to tomorrow’s draw. There aren’t any seedings and no nation safety, so something goes.
Take your decide from Barcelona, Bayern Munich. Manch115ter Metropolis, Paris Saint-Germain, Actual Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid. In case you squint you may also see the bonus ball with Olympiakos’ title on it.
I’ve at all times felt like our presence on this yr’s Champions League is a little bit of a free hit for Arteta. Whereas qualification from the group was anticipated, no self-respecting Arsenal fan began the season demanding we win the competitors. I nonetheless really feel that method now and can be completely happy to attract a glamour aspect sooner reasonably than later to see how our boys arise. By that I imply, Barca, Bayern or Actual.
I solely have one request…that we don’t draw Metropolis simply but. At this level, the prospect of three video games towards them in 18 days makes me wish to vomit.
No matter occurs subsequent, Arteta is clearly pleased with the course of journey.
He said: “It’s one other massive step, particularly as a membership. The final seven years we haven’t been on this competitors, the final 14 we haven’t been the place we’re right this moment. That’s the problem of it, the very best factor is we aren’t happy, we wish extra and we’re going to attempt to undergo the subsequent spherical for certain.”
Elsewhere, it was actually attention-grabbing listening to from David Raya after Tuesday’s sport. He’s understandably stored a low profile since arriving on mortgage from Brentford however having thrust himself into the limelight, he was completely happy to debate the extent of planning undertaken by the goalkeeping division for penalty eventualities.
Going through questions from the CBS Sports pundits, he stated: “We’ve been practising because the begin of the season to be honest. Now we have to. Even within the Premier League you’ll be able to resolve [a game] on a penalty and in moments like this you need to be prepared if you end up requested to do it so I believe all of the laborious work that we’ve been working in coaching paid off.”
“Earlier than the sport clearly you see the penalties and which participant [takes them] and also you would possibly assume the place he goes and you’ve got the proportion [likelihood] and all that, so you need to [study], however I don’t wish to say an excessive amount of. Simply comply with the plan.”
He additionally touched on how mentally draining it’s to be a goalkeeper on the highest stage and absolutely the necessity of fixed focus.
“You get drained after video games being a goalkeeper. Perhaps not leg-wise, however mentally, you need to be so centered because the first minute till the final minute. You can’t change off for one second.
“You see typically [outfield] gamers, they’ll change off for a couple of minutes as a result of they’re not concerned. However keepers, you by no means know whenever you’re going to be concerned. So you need to change on and be centered on the ball.”
I believe we’ve all had sufficient of the Ramsdale vs Raya debate – it seems settled anyway – but it surely’s laborious not to attract comparisons between the Spaniard’s phrases and people of his colleague who has openly admitted he has trouble concentrating for 90 minutes and typically wants to create a tension with opposition fans to take care of focus. That alone hasn’t led to Ramsdale falling down the pecking order but it surely received’t have gone unnoticed.
As for Raya, it’s nice to see him rising in stature. He was close to faultless on Tuesday and any sense of imposter syndrome seems to have dissipated. It was nice watching him gee up the group earlier than the shootout, now he simply wants a chant of his personal to solidify his relationship with the followers.
I noticed somebody on Twitter (apologies, I couldn’t discover the unique tweet) recommend we repurpose the Dani Ceballos music.
“Oh David Raya, Oh David Raya, he drinks Estrella, he eats paella, his palms are f*cking huge…”
It really works for me…
Lastly for right this moment, David Ornstein stories in The Athletic that Ben ‘Golden Thighs’ White has signed a brand new and improved contract at Arsenal. There aren’t any surprises there, he’s been in talks for fairly a while and a deal was reached in precept some time again. It’s well-deserved. I assume we will count on the membership to substantiate that and the extension of Takehiro Tomiyasu quickly sufficient.
One very last thing earlier than I’m going…a quick congratulations to Arsenal Women’s Amanda Ilestedt after it was introduced she’s anticipating her first little one. Hear out for Beth Mead’s contribution within the short video the membership put collectively to have fun a particular second.
I ought to have stated on the outset that Blogs is out of motion this morning however he’ll be again tomorrow!
Catch you quickly.
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