Morning from a really wet Dublin.
We don’t play till tomorrow so there’s not a large quantity happening with the boys at present. 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 boys duly adopted their lead. Hopefully at present 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 large 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 boys’s aspect, as a result of he’s Dutch. However after we gained in opposition to Madrid, I acquired messages from everybody throughout the membership, together with Mikel, and he mentioned it was inspirational, and in case you take a look at what they now did in opposition to Madrid, I believe it’s so robust.
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 help one another, so it’s nice.
Stepping again only a bit from our midweek Actual Madrid exploits, it’s incredible that each ladies and men are the place they’re within the Champions League this season. Renee has executed a incredible job since taking on from Jonas Eidevall, and whereas Lyon are clearly very difficult opposition, that’s what you count on at this degree. I don’t know if any membership has executed 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 fireplace up WhatsApp.
So there you go. For extra on at present’s sport, Tim has a full preview on Arseblog Informationand 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 kind this season and the way he ready his gamers for among the massive video games and tough opposition we confronted thus 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 maintain telling them, I mentioned ‘You’ve executed it three days in the past in opposition to probably the greatest groups in Europe away, so don’t suppose out of the field!’
The monetary may 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 degree has elevated massively over time (even when Gary Neville hates it as a result of he doesn’t perceive it anymore), and whenever you’re dealing with 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 accessible money lifts all boats, I assume.
That mentioned, there’s something distinct about European video games, and as I wrote yesterday, your personal membership’s monitor file performs an element. There isn’t any 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 on the subject of 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 maintain all the things crossed we will try this.
Lastly for at present, I loved Amy’s piece in The Athletic (£) concerning the journey to Madrid, and the connections with people who soccer brings into your life:
It happens to me how a lot these soccer reminiscences 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 in case you’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 reminiscences grow 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 objective. 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 reminiscences earlier than this season is out. Proper, I’ll go away it there for now. There’s an Ipswich preview podcast on Patreon proper now, however full disclosure it’s fairly gentle 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 ideal Saturday people.
