By Dan Ferguson
Arsenal 1 Athletico Madrid 1
Will Arsenal play with the handbrake? Will the defence panic in possession and will that panic spread?
The game starts a bit scrappy and within 80 seconds the Madrid right back Vrsalako is booked. Arsenal have started quite positively. Corner on 3 taken by Xhaka amounts to nothing, but Madrid can’t hold on to the ball at the moment. Arsenal really stretching Madrid in the first 5.
On 6 a great deep cross from Welbeck is blasted wide by Lacazette. Fabulous move. Then within 30 seconds a great cross from Monreal is headed really well by Lacazette and Oblak saves instinctively. I can’t keep up with the chances. Arsenal pounding Madrid hard in the first 9 mins. They’ve been watching Liverpool.
Vrsalako makes a sloppy challenge on 10 and gets a second yellow. Amazing scenes. Red card. He stamped down.
Welbeck has started like a man possessed. Wow!
Then on 12 Simeone gets sent to the stands! What is going on??? The odds are really stacked in Arsenal’s favour now. Will they make it count? This is Arsenal after all.
Also it is key to remember that the referee holds no light to Arsenal either. One silly move and he will book or send off one of ours. In fact, when he sees that Mustafi is on the pitch he will send him off for being sub par.
Arsenal’s crosses in the first 17 are coming fast and furious. Athletico are all over the shop and really need to settle down. Ramsey should have scored on 18. Not enough time to explain why. Then Wilshere almost immediately after. I can’t keep up. Simeone is looking more and more like Tom Waits on steroids.
It is funny how much Arsenal’s form is linked to Xhaka’s. When he plays well Arsenal wins, or when Arsenal wins he plays well. Go figure.
On 20 Welbeck should have scored. Wilshere really penetrating well. Have I mentioned that there’s too many chances and I cannot keep up.
Arsenal really need to score to start turning the screw. Lacazette runs into Godin on 22 and falls for a penalty. Not given and rightly so. Careful Alex or you’ll go in the book.
Too. Many. Chances. I give up. There’s a lot happening. Arsenal may punch themselves out. They need to compose and open the pitch up. Pressing so hard is just going to force Athletico in to a more compact shape. I can’t believe I’m saying this but they need to pass the ball back and around the pitch more.
On 30 Monreal should have hit the target. Really positive play once again. Great pressure from AFC. First chance for Griezmann on 33. A good strike but a comfortable save from Ospina.
Ospina makes a fantastic save on 37. Thomas makes a ridiculous run and handball but Griezmann gets his shot away and it was a beauty.
Best pass I’ve ever seen from Ospina on 40. What amazing distribution from a drop kick. Bonkers. Both teams are tired on 42. This will suit Athletico as anything is a good result.
Griezmann trying to cheat on 43. That won’t work.
Athletico looking more dangerous than Arsenal in the final 5. Wilshere and Ozil starting to tire. All this pressure means little without working the keeper more.
First half peters out but has been very eventful.
2nd half.
I think Athletico will now park the bus and work Arsenal to make rash challenges. If they can even the numbers but luring a bad challenge then I can still see them doing well today.
Second half starts much like the first. Will anyone score?
Arsenal still working Athletico hard but not really creating goal scoring chances. It is tiring to will the ball into the net. Wilshere is getting sloppy now. He needs to find a rhythm.
Arsenal aren’t believing enough that they can win this. There is frustration and boos because Arsenal are not clicking. On 57 there is a chance to really work the defence but Ramsey and Ozil taking too long. It’s a sign. Not sure that the formation is working to create enough obvious chances. I think the crowd have to earn their stripes here. Keep it big.
About bloody time! Wilshere goes out on the left and works the ball for a 1/2 and produces a lovely cross. It hangs so well and Lacazette is superb in the air. Like Lebron James!!!
1-0 Arsenal. Great patience and the goal has come.
All Arsenal now. Let’s see if they can make them pay. Chance after chance. On 66 Lacazette really working the Madrid defence. He has grown as a player since he has come back from injury. He is very strong and skilful. Cross after cross and Lacazette is everywhere. He is working their defence into the ground.
Peppering. Wave after wave without the final ball or working the keeper enough. But Arsenal is still in the lead and are camped just outside the Athletico area.
15 to go and a strong performance from many Arsenal players. So much better than usual. Currently Lacazette is so switched on that Ozil cannot function quickly enough to connect in time. Athletico are really tiring now. Arsenal has stretched them well. Good relentless jabbing.
And on 82 Koscielny shows his age. Arsenal out of nothing are punished over the top. Mustafi in an attempt to cover the goal tries to break his own legs. Arsenal has really screwed this up. So many great performances ruined by bad defenders going to sleep and Griezmann scores.
All the players and fans knew where the ball was going and yet Koscielny didn’t.
On 87 Oblak makes a truly remarkable save from Ramsey’s header. He is a very good keeper. Pure fingertips and not a whiff of Hollywood.
The Arsenal forwards still working the Athletico defence right to the end. However, here is the difference between the two teams. Athletico have hard work as their main priority, and any dip in mood, form or mentality will not affect it. Arsenal work as hard as their mood will let them.
This game feels like a defeat.
The next match against Man United will be bloody hard and probably a major defeat as we rest players. Either way, next week is going to need a remarkable performance from the Arsenal.
Wenger’s finale looks like a glass of champagne left behind the sofa all night. C’est la vie.