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 feel 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 workforce rapidly. They’ve had some struggles, little doubt about it, however you additionally should acknowledge that Bayer Leverkeusen are having a unprecedented marketing campaign to take a seat 10 factors clear on the prime 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 whenever you take a second to look by means of their squad, it’s full of gamers of the best high quality. And likewise Harry Kane. His presence can be a giant a part of the narrative round these ties, for apparent causes, however it’s as much as us to make sure that his first season in Germany ends in European disappointment earlier than he goes on to choose up his trophy for prime 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, however it’s additionally not the identical Arsenal. We lack expertise at this degree, and that’s one thing we shouldn’t gloss over. I feel 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 wish to be although, and pound for pound I feel we’ve acquired the standard to present it a extremely good go. The ‘revenge’ side is one thing that I feel we’ll expertise as followers, however perhaps not a lot the gamers. They’re distinct from these heavy defeats, however I feel we’ll all be eager to make up for the best way 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. Meaning the Emirates can be 100% Arsenal (past the inevitable company aspect 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 feel it’d be ‘simpler’ however I can’t clarify how a lot I hate going through English opposition in Europe – the scars of earlier encounters simply haven’t healed correctly. Additionally, I wish to see a Pep fuming after a scandalous refereeing choice is sufficient to see Actual by means 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 can 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 just a few 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 listing has additionally impacted the Premier League, as our recreation towards Aston Villa which was as a result 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 feel it’s pretty sure to be the case although, if you happen to’re making journey plans and so forth.
Lastly, it was a disappointing evening final evening for Arsenal Ladies, shedding 3-1 to Chelsea, a consequence which is a giant blow to the workforce’s WSL title probabilities. Tim has all of the response and so forth over on Arseblog Information.
Proper, let’s depart it there for this morning. Have an amazing Saturday on an Arsenal free weekend. Extra tomorrow, till then.
