Morning all, has everybody recovered from Tuesday?
I wouldn’t blame you in case you haven’t. I had a lot adrenaline coursing via my veins after I acquired dwelling from the Emirates that regardless of being shattered after 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 one more couple of hours.
Having been annoyed when the Chelsea recreation – initially scheduled for this Saturday – was postponed, I admit, it now seems 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 should be working on fumes. Judging by Martin Odegaard’s feedback, that’s certainly the case.
In his post-game media huddle, he mentioned:
“I feel you noticed plenty 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 feel we want just a few days to get well every now and then we’re going to deal with Man Metropolis after the break. A number of 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 informed to go dwelling and put their ft up. We will solely hope these referred to as up by their nations are handled sensibly within the subsequent couple of weeks.
Trying forward, our qualification to the Champions League quarter-finals means we’re going through 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 will probably be off if Gary O’Neill’s facet beats Coventry within the FA Cup on Saturday, nonetheless, earlier than we get excited a couple of respectable break between European motion and the North London derby on 27 April, it’s seemingly the postponed Chelsea recreation will probably be squeezed into the schedule midweek forward of the sport at Sp*rs.
In his post-Porto press convention, 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 will probably be tight.
“In case you are out, you suppose one much less competitors, we will deal with the league, extra time to organize 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 evening, all eyes flip to tomorrow’s draw. There are not any seedings and no nation safety, so something goes.
Take your choose 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’ identify 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 facet sooner quite than later to see how our boys get up. 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 in opposition to them in 18 days makes me need to vomit.
No matter occurs subsequent, Arteta is clearly proud of the course of journey.
He mentioned: “It’s one other huge 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 at this time. That’s the issue of it, the perfect factor is we aren’t glad, we wish extra and we’re going to attempt to undergo the following spherical for positive.”
Elsewhere, it was actually fascinating listening to from David Raya after Tuesday’s recreation. 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 situations.
Dealing with questions from the CBS Sports activities pundits, he mentioned: “We’ve been practising for the reason that begin of the season to be truthful. We now have to. Even within the Premier League you’ll be able to determine [a game] on a penalty and in moments like this it’s important to be prepared when you find yourself requested to do it so I feel all of the arduous work that we’ve been working in coaching paid off.”
“Earlier than the sport clearly you see the penalties and you recognize which participant [takes them] and also you would possibly suppose the place he goes and you’ve got the share [likelihood] and all that, so it’s important to [study], however I don’t need 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 degree and absolutely the necessity of fixed focus.
“You get drained after video games being a goalkeeper. Perhaps not leg-wise, however mentally, it’s important to be so centered for the reason that first minute till the final minute. You can not change off for one second.
“You see generally [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 once you’re going to be concerned. So it’s important to change on and be centered on the ball.”
I feel we’ve all had sufficient of the Ramsdale vs Raya debate – it seems settled anyway – nevertheless it’s arduous not to attract comparisons between the Spaniard’s phrases and people of his colleague who has overtly admitted he has hassle concentrating for 90 minutes and generally wants to create a pressure with opposition followers to take care of focus. That alone hasn’t led to Ramsdale falling down the pecking order nevertheless it 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) counsel we repurpose the Dani Ceballos tune.
“Oh David Raya, Oh David Raya, he drinks Estrella, he eats paella, his arms are f*cking huge…”
It really works for me…
Lastly for at this time, David Ornstein experiences in The Athletic that Ben ‘Golden Thighs’ White has signed a brand new and improved contract at Arsenal. There are not 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 verify that and the extension of Takehiro Tomiyasu quickly sufficient.
One very last thing earlier than I am going…a fast congratulations to Arsenal Girls’s Amanda Ilestedt after it was introduced she’s anticipating her first little one. Hear out for Beth Mead’s contribution within the brief video the membership put collectively to rejoice a particular second.
I ought to have mentioned on the outset that Blogs is out of motion this morning however he’ll be again tomorrow!
Catch you quickly.
