The last 16 stage of the Champions League was a tough experience for the Premier League. Four teams conceded 28 times and were eliminated on European football’s biggest stage, a huge embarrassment.
Mikel Arteta has had a completely different week to his Premier League opponents – Arne Slott was the exception
It’s been a great week for English football. He was unable to reach the top and lost his defensive skills.
In the last 16 of the Champions League, Manchester City, Tottenham, Newcastle and Chelsea lost by a combined score of 28-11. Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle all conceded five or more goals in one leg or another. Newcastle suffered the humiliation of conceding seven goals in a non-camp match.
How City were able to hold Real Madrid to a 5-1 aggregate victory is anyone’s guess. Vinicius Junior should have scored a hat-trick in five frantic minutes against the Etihad this week.
Arsenal conceded only one goal against Bayer Leverkusen in two matches. And guess what? They advanced to the quarterfinals.
The same Arsenal team that has been accused of being one of the dullest teams in Top League history. The side that sucks the joy out of soccer. Try telling your supporters that Mikel Arteta and his team will be holding an open-top bus parade through north London at the end of the season.
There was a famous chant among old Arsenal supporters: “1-0 to Arsenal”. It was during the George Graham era that Arsenal won trophies for fun.
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In the modern game, teams are expected to bring the ball out from the back. Goalkeepers are an extension of the defense and must be good with their feet. Fighting through the press and scoring goals on the training ground. However, the skills to stop them seem to be ignored.
The great Pep Guardiola realized this in January and signed Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. However, the movement was too slow. Guehi did not start in this week’s second leg against Real, with City torn to shreds from kick-off. That’s no surprise coming from someone who is considered the greatest manager of all time.
Arsenal have scored one more goal than City in the league this season. But this is not the reason why they are currently in pole position and crowned champions. This will happen because Arteta’s side have conceded six fewer goals than City.
The striker wins the match, but the defender also wins the title. Plain and simple.
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Aston Villa are fourth in the table and on track to qualify for the Champions League, with just a plus-three goal difference. Brentford are seventh in the table with a goal difference of just plus four.
One Sky Sports pundit tried to blame Premier League quality and fatigue for their last-16 embarrassment. Absolute garbage. They were destroyed because they didn’t do the dirty parts of the game well enough.
Remember all those years ago when Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle were battling Manchester United for the title?Keegan’s attitude seemed to be that if the other team scored three goals, Newcastle would score four. United won the title.
Arsenal can be a bit dull and boring. But Arteta is focused on respecting the fundamentals required in every game. And it’s likely he’ll be rewarded handsomely in the coming weeks.
Others should swallow their pride and learn from the Spaniards. This includes his mentor Guardiola.
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