Morning from a really wet Dublin.
We don’t play till tomorrow so there’s not a large quantity happening with the lads right this moment. First although, we must always want Arsenal Girls all the most effective as they get able to face Lyon of their Champions League semi-final first leg on the Emirates early this afternoon (12.30). Within the earlier spherical, they beat Actual Madrid 3-0, and the lads duly adopted their lead. Hopefully right this moment they’ll put French opposition to the sword, and we will do likewise in our semi-final.
I loved how Renee Slegers spoke concerning the unity on the membership as the 2 groups put together for giant European video games, saying:
I actually really feel like since I’ve come to the membership that it’s one membership. I’ve naturally been in touch with the assistant coach on the lads’s facet, as a result of he’s Dutch. However after we gained in opposition to Madrid, I bought messages from everybody throughout the membership, together with Mikel, and he mentioned it was inspirational, and if you happen to take a look at what they now did in opposition to Madrid, I believe it’s so sturdy.
There was just a few media right here on the membership and Jurrien Timber is sitting there and he says, ‘Renée, good luck for tomorrow’. So the blokes additionally know what we’re doing, and we all know what they’re doing, and we assist one another, so it’s nice.
Stepping again only a bit from our midweek Actual Madrid exploits, it’s implausible that each ladies and men are the place they’re within the Champions League this season. Renee has carried out a implausible job since taking on from Jonas Eidevall, and whereas Lyon are clearly very difficult opposition, that’s what you count on at this stage. I don’t know if any membership has carried out the Males/Girls Champions League double, so there’s probably one thing very particular on the playing cards.
Now that I give it some thought, I ought to ask Tim. Cling on, whereas I hearth up WhatsApp.
So there you go. For extra on right this moment’s sport, Tim has a full preview on Arseblog Information, and we’ll have all of the post-game stuff on there for you. Come on Arsenal!
In the meantime, Mikel Arteta was requested about our European type this season and the way he ready his gamers for a number of the massive video games and tough opposition we confronted so far:
The truth that in our league we compete in opposition to the most effective groups on this planet each single week. In order that’s the most effective preparation for Europe, I believe.
So typically after we say, if we go to Europe, now can we do it in Europe? And I preserve telling them, I mentioned ‘You’ve carried out it three days in the past in opposition to among the best groups in Europe away, so don’t assume out of the field!’
The monetary would possibly of the Premier League signifies that the extent of all the things has gone up, not simply by way of gamers but in addition the coaches/managers. The tactical stage has elevated massively over time (even when Gary Neville hates it as a result of he doesn’t perceive it anymore), and while you’re going through excessive calibre opposition week after week, even when they’re ‘mid-table’, it means each sport is a problem. Which is nice, competitiveness is import. A rising tide of obtainable money lifts all boats, I suppose.
That mentioned, there’s something distinct about European video games, and as I wrote yesterday, your individual membership’s observe file performs an element. There is no such thing as a logical purpose why Arsenal making a large number of a Champions League sport 15 years in the past ought to play any half in how we take into consideration a sport now, however within the minds of followers not less than, it does. That’s what Mikel Arteta has spoken about of late with regards to writing a brand new historical past. We’ve turned a comparatively new web page this season, there’s nonetheless a bit extra to fill in clearly, so let’s preserve all the things crossed we will try this.
Lastly for right this moment, I loved Amy’s piece in The Athletic (£) concerning the journey to Madrid, and the connections with those that soccer brings into your life:
It happens to me how a lot these soccer recollections are about friendships, about being a part of one thing exterior of our on a regular basis lives which hyperlinks us. You select your membership, or your membership chooses you, and as soon as these roots are established kinships develop.
It’s true on-line too, after all, however if you happen to’re fortunate sufficient to be at an enormous sport the place one thing particular occurs (whether or not it’s beating a Galactico membership or successful a trophy for instance), these issues are heightened. The recollections turn out to be indelible. I can barely bear in mind what I had for breakfast yesterday, however I bear in mind a lot concerning the journey to the Bernabeu in 2006 when Thierry Henry scored that purpose. Who I used to be with (Hello Invoice, Chris!), the place we went, even what we ate after the sport.
Fingers crossed for extra of these recollections earlier than this season is out. Proper, I’ll depart it there for now. There’s an Ipswich preview podcast on Patreon proper now, however full disclosure it’s fairly mild on Ipswich and heavy on Actual Madrid as Lewis and I focus on the 2 wins and what it means for this membership proper now.
Have an incredible Saturday people.
