Fear? « Non »assured Mikel Arteta in a pre-match press conference, even promising fire for the quarter-final return against Sporting at the Emirates Stadium. However, the fire never caught, and the public was even rather cooled by the performance of their team, once again very uninspired. And inevitably, the English press does not fail to highlight the notable difference between Arteta’s incantation and the result on the field. “No fire, fear but qualification for the semi-final”noted thus Sky Sports.
The Sun spoke about Gunners “below their usual level”the Daily Telegraph of a team “who shoots blanks”. Arsenal will not be reconciled with their detractors, more and more numerous and vindictive, at this end of this exciting season. The fear of winning and the fear of losing everything intertwine for a club chasing its first major trophy since 2004, the date of the last English championship title. So, if the players and fans retain the qualification, like Declan Rice, others insist on the lack of offensive energy which has characterized all Arsenal matches for several weeks. “Mikel Arteta called for fire this evening. It was more like torture.”gently mocked the journalist from the BBC present at the Emirates, who also noticed that some supporters were leaving the enclosure before the end of the match, when nothing had been decided.
Arsenal get demolished at a crucial time
What should we remember from this sad 0-0 offered to the Emirates? Qualification in the semi-finals, the second in a row for Arsenal, a record for the club. The fact that Arsenal is the last English team to qualify for the Champions League. Or the more than mediocre quality of the show offered. Chris Sutton, former striker and consultant for BBCtried to qualify the statement. “Many will demolish Arsenal for the way they attack, or rather, for their lack of attack. In the end, the important thing is to see it through to the end. The objective this evening was to progress and find a solution. It certainly wasn’t perfect, but defensively they did a lot of things well. It’s been difficult for a while and things need to change…”
Image generation in progress
Arsenal will not have time to procrastinate since it is the match that all of England is waiting for which is looming next Sunday, with the trip to Manchester City, considered the final of the Premier League. And here again, Arsenal fans will not care about the quality of the game if victory is achieved.
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