In the words of the late great Michael Jackson : This is it.
Our whole season comes down to one game. Every single cliche you can think of is appropriate for this game : do or die, now or never, make or break etc.
This is the biggest match of our season bar none. Arteta’s Arsenal career is essentially on the line here. So far when it has truly mattered he has has been able to pull the rabbit out of the hat. Can he do it again?
Today’s victory gave some good headaches. Assuming Auba plays up top, who would your drop out of Martinelli, Pepe, Odegaard and Saka?
Defensively, assuming Luiz is out, do you bring in Gabriel, who played very well today to partner Holding or do you play Chambers as CB instead of the latter?
What about LB? Xhaka keeps his place after being OK or do you replace him with Cedric?
If Xhaka plays LB who partners Partey in the middle? Elneny?
This game is about nerves, it’s about balls, it’s about ambition, it’s about discipline, game management and also aggression (in the right way). It’s about learning from all our mistakes from the season and try to navigate this game in the best way possible.
We can take Villarreal but we must make sure the occasion and what is at stake doesn’t take us.
Win this and we are one game away from the promise land. I repeat, one game. Nothing is impossible. We are Arsenal. Two wins from history. Two wins from saving a dreadful season. Two wins from hearing that CL music once more. It is literally All or Nothing.
Maybe this is bigger than Arteta in/out. When your name is on the cup. It’s on the cup. Look at Liverpool 2005, Chelsea 2012 for example. We’ll find out on Thur.
Back the team on Thur, put your trolls and hatred for certain players/management to the side for possible 120 mins and more. Dare I say it, try to enjoy it.
COYG.
