Hello and how are you? Well, here we are, and somehow, we’ve have made it through to the CL semi-final, and will do battle in this the first leg at the Estadio Metropolitano against Simeone’s Atlético Madrid. KO in Madrid is 8-00pm UK time.
After the magnificent game between PSG and Bayern, I’m sure everyone’s expecting the opposite from this clash, but in fairness did you expect a scoreline like that between PSG and BMU? Are PSG worried about dropping a three-goal lead?
Although our league form still remains nervy, we have played better in the CL this season, and have beaten BMU and Atlético already, but you’re right, that was in the group stage and now at this end point of the competition teams are very much warmed up. Are we? Sometimes we look like we’ve crawled out of the freezer?
Merino, Timber! and Kai are all AWOL the Zube’s doubtful. Eze and Calafury were in training. For Madrid, Lookman (doubtful), Hancko and Gimenez are also unavailable.
Simeone been prioritizing the Liga team selection now that ATM are out of the tile race but comfortable top four, but we are the only remaining unbeaten team in the CL.
The nerds at Statto HQ stop playing D+D for a moment and handed over the figures: ATM are at 33% and The Arsenal at 37.2%.
Next up, frolics with Fulham at ours. SO COYG!
Mills
A welcome distraction from the pain and agony of the PL. Three good results in this competition will propel Arteta and the team to legendary status forever, no matter how turgid our football is all that will be forgotten. We can but hope.
Pedantic George.
Positively Arsenal 
one thing we can say about the CL
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New post is up
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Wasn’t that the new post?.
Great again Mills and again I’m looking forward to this one.
Lots of fans are saying the pressure is off in the CL because we’re not expected to win it and maybe the players feel that as well, judging by the much improved performances in this competition.
As usual once you start reading about the opposition they suddenly sound like world-beaters no matter how many times they have been spanked this season and where they are in the league.
Our foe tonight apparently scored in every game, are the best in the competition for high turnovers, most tackles and interceptions.
They have also scored the most from set pieces and are the fastest on the break.
However this current version of the Spanish side concede as many goals as they score and give up lots of chances because of the high line they hold.
That’s just not the thing I remember about any of simeone’s teams in the past but we shall see. I’m sure they can all file back behind the ball if needed.
In the last round we played a sort of front foot back foot policy, adopting waves of attacks and then periods of stability to ward away evil.
With just three players not travelling we certainly have more than enough to do the business here but as usual it depends on what version of ourselves turns up COYG.
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Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Salmon, Norgaard, Eze, Trossard, Saka, Dowman, Jesus.
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COYG!
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Arsenal women 4-0 up at half time v Leicester Women
Maanum, Holmberg and Blackstenius x2 with the goals
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five now Ed!
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seven
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penalty to Arsenal, var will check it, foul on Gyokeres
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Gyokeresssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss blasts the penalty home, 1-0 to the Arsenal
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get in there!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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HT: Atletico Madrid 0-1 Arsenal
Gyokeres won and scored the penalty,
so far so good
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Arsenal women won 7-0 and are now 8 points behind man city but have two games in hand. 4 games to go in the league for AFC, still in 3rd but also have two games in hand on chelsea women, who are 2 points ahead of us.
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madrid go very close
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VAR checking for penalty to atletico madrid, ben white handball is being checked
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ball hit his leg and went on to his hand, ref being called over to the monitor,
penalty given
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1-1, a rocket of a penalty
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eze on for odegaard who has been poor again
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Arsenal haven’t turned up for the second half
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under a lot of pressure, COYG!
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Jesus, Saka and Trossard on
Martinelli, Madueke and Gyokeres off
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Penalty to Arsenal, Eze brought down, VAR of course will check it
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who will take it with Gyokeres and Odegaard both taken off
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forgot Saka is on
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feck the ref is being called over to the monitor, that usually means change to the original call
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no penalty, fuck
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Mosquera on for White
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FT: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Arsenal
a story of 3 penalties, Gyokeres gave us the lead from the spot, they got level from a penalty, then for some odd reason VAR overturned a penalty to Arsenal.
We were poor for so much of the second half after being the better side in the first half We finished better.
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Arsenal need to win 6 games in a row now to win the EPL and CL double.
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Awful game by the officials, to get something wrong can be forgiven but to get it right and to be swayed by the crowd and manager is criminal.
This ref has done a Euro final, games in the Euro’s and World cup tournaments so has had plenty of experience. He should never be allowed to ref again.
Plenty of good play again against a very good team in a hostile environment. Unfortunately Mikel was spooked by an unfortunate penalty that under PL rules would not have been given.
The timing of the subs and most of the subs themselves was poor. Eze and Mosquera played well but the other three all came on and lost the ball multiple times.
I though when subs come on in a situation like this they are told play it simple, play yourself into the game and don’t take to many touches, fuck me they all thought they could take on the world with their first couple of touches. Even Eze done the same the first time he got it.
I don’t know what sort of condition Martinelli and Gyorkares were in on the heart monitors but they both were playing well especially defensively.
It does seem like European football has reversed and managers are banking on getting a bigger result in the away leg.
Anyway overall a very good performance that deserved a win but now the next leg will be very interesting.
I hope we are flying home tonight to get some rest before Saturday.
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Leah Williamson has signed a new deal which will mean she has been at the club for 50 years when her contract expires.
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Scott Parker has left Burnley by mutual consent; Parker leaves with immediate effect with Mike Jackson taking over on an interim basis, starting against Leeds on Friday
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That’s typical for yet another time this season we face another new manager just as a team were getting spanked every week.
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George, sent a preview over COYG!
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It’s up.
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