PSG - Arsenal Wednesday 20:00 UK Time.: Page 2 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

PSG - Arsenal Wednesday 20:00 UK Time.

Qwiss

I think we are going to win this. I don't know why I just do.

Unfortunately I have football training with my U11 team from 7-8 so it'll be a mad dash home and if anyone is late to pick up their kids tough luck, your kid needs to brave it on their own.

Tam

Qwiss Character building.

Will stand them good stead should they ever grow up to be supporters of Arsenal and need to watch the team chase a 1 goal deficit in a Champions League semi final....

Tam

I have no idea how I think tomorrow will go. I'd managed to put it out of my mind with it being a bank holiday weekend, but now this thread, and the working week, has started it'll be hard to avoid.

My main fear is that Arteta will try to be too smart and either try something new or revert to something we've seen before which we know doesn't work.

I'd also like someone to stand Raya next to Saka and show him he isn't seven foot tall. Maybe if he wants to continually hit Saka with long balls, he could give him a chance.

Don Pacifico

Tam that's not even a Raya thing, Ramsdale used to do the same. Was always amazed how many of those Jesus would actually win...alas, you can't win those balls when you're injured...

Pepe LeFrits

I think we'll go out tamely. Hope I'm wrong.

TambourineMan

Pepe LeFrits same, have zero faith.

awooga83

Pepe LeFrits yep, I mean this is the outcome that would be most damaging. Arteta falling back on his over cautious approach scared to take any risk and imparting that to the team so we play not to concede and then maybe lump crosses or long balls in the final 10 which do nothing. That would show he's learned nothing and I would doubt if he could ever change his approach.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Just go long. Merino up front knocking it on to Rice and Martinelli.

Pepe LeFrits

awooga83 yep, I mean this is the outcome that would be most damaging. Arteta falling back on his over cautious approach scared to take any risk and imparting that to the team so we play not to concede and then maybe lump crosses or long balls in the final 10 which do nothing. That would show he's learned nothing and I would doubt if he could ever change his approach.

That isn't quite what I had in mind - I can see us going out all fired up but being unable to land a punch on them and getting out maneuvered tactically. It's kind of the way it goes for us in Europe; we get a disappointing first leg result and hope/expect a bit of English football blood and thunder in the second leg, only to be out thought again.

Claudius

Don Pacifico yeah. some of that distribution is purely driven by pressing tactics, on both ends of the field. you send the ball long to bypass your opponent's press. and then if your player doesn't get the long ball, then you immediately press the opponent - at least you are 60 meters away from your goal now and not in immediate danger of turning over in a dangerous area.

Tam

Don Pacifico It's not so much the long kick itself, I may be wrong but it feels like his execution of longer passes like that has been poorer of late. Raya in full flow could seemingly drop it on whichever foot of the target he felt like. Now it seems like he's overcooking it by a foot and forcing them into jumping on the touchline.

Qwiss

Speaking of Raya he really needs to sort his head out for this. Has looked extremely jittery lately and we can't afford to be giving PSG the sort of easy chances we've been giving teams in the league.

Don Pacifico

Tam if I'm honest, I've always thought Raya's long passing is a bit overrated (not to say it's bad) but you make a fair point

Kel Varnsen

Hard to predict. This team's performances fluctuate wildly. I wouldn't be surprised by either a 3-0 win or 3-0 loss, tbh.

Claudius

Kel Varnsen nope. We are very stable. Don’t score don’t concede. So we are very prone to variance either way .

SimplyThePest

Pepe LeFrits the blood-and-thunder thing isn't really Arteta's bag, though. I think we're more likely to come undone by being overly cautious, indecisive and maybe an oddball tactical decision that we know doesn't work thrown in to boot (e.g. Partey at right back).

Panda

Claudius Haha not that easy is it? I will watch but with 0 expectations so at least no nerves or disappointment if we lose.

Sicario2

samthegooner

This needs to be a match where Declan just takes it by the scruff of the neck and wills us to a win. With Partey back, he should have the freedom to be a maverick across the pitch and show PSG what he wasn't able to for the majority of the match at the Emirates. I don't think much needs to change from our approach if we can free him up to drive with the ball and dominate their midfield. We clearly can't have a period of time like the first 20-25 minutes of the first match where they completely dominated us so hopefully Arteta can reinforce whatever changes he made in the buildup and press after that initial disaster phase.

I've got confidence in the squad. They weren't phased by the Bernabeu and I don't think they will be phased by the Parc des Princes either. Honestly, it feels like the Emirates phases them more than these away grounds since expectations are higher. Hopefully they can go out and play free and get that all important first goal.

Coombs

samthegooner Honestly, it feels like the Emirates phases them more than these away grounds since expectations are higher.

I'm much more nervous home than away. Our fans are not helpful, and I don't really mean that as a criticism so much as a fact. I think we concede more goals at home, which is indicative of this tense, nervous vibe the Emirates seems to have at times.

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