Saturday round-up: Champions League Semis + Arteta’s European message

Morning from a really wet Dublin.

We don’t play till tomorrow so there’s not an enormous quantity happening with the boys in the present day. First although, we should always want Arsenal Ladies all the perfect as they get able to face Lyon of their Champions League semi-final first leg on the Emirates early this afternoon (12.30). Within the earlier spherical, they beat Actual Madrid 3-0, and the boys duly adopted their lead. Hopefully in the present day they’ll put French opposition to the sword, and we are able to do likewise in our semi-final.

I loved how Renee Slegers spoke concerning the unity on the membership as the 2 groups put together for giant European video games, saying:

I actually really feel like since I’ve come to the membership that it’s one membership. I’ve naturally been in touch with the assistant coach on the boys’s aspect, as a result of he’s Dutch. However after we gained towards Madrid, I bought messages from everybody throughout the membership, together with Mikel, and he stated it was inspirational, and for those who have a look at what they now did towards Madrid, I feel it’s so robust.

There was just a few media right here on the membership and Jurrien Timber is sitting there and he says, ‘Renée, good luck for tomorrow’. So the fellows additionally know what we’re doing, and we all know what they’re doing, and we help one another, so it’s nice.

Stepping again only a bit from our midweek Actual Madrid exploits, it’s incredible that each men and women are the place they’re within the Champions League this season. Renee has performed a incredible job since taking on from Jonas Eidevall, and whereas Lyon are clearly very difficult opposition, that’s what you count on at this degree. I don’t know if any membership has performed the Males/Ladies Champions League double, so there’s probably one thing very particular on the playing cards.

Now that I give it some thought, I ought to ask Tim. Grasp on, whereas I fireplace up WhatsApp.

So there you go. For extra on in the present day’s sport, Tim has a full preview on Arseblog Information, and we’ll have all of the post-game stuff on there for you. Come on Arsenal!

In the meantime, Mikel Arteta was requested about our European kind this season and the way he ready his gamers for among the massive video games and tough opposition we confronted up to now:

The truth that in our league we compete towards the perfect groups on the earth each single week. In order that’s the perfect preparation for Europe, I feel.

So typically once we say, if we go to Europe, now can we do it in Europe? And I maintain telling them, I stated ‘You’ve performed it three days in the past towards the most effective groups in Europe away, so don’t suppose out of the field!’

The monetary would possibly of the Premier League implies that the extent of the whole lot has gone up, not simply when it comes to gamers but in addition the coaches/managers. The tactical degree has elevated massively over time (even when Gary Neville hates it as a result of he doesn’t perceive it anymore), and while you’re going through excessive calibre opposition week after week, even when they’re ‘mid-table’, it means each sport is a problem. Which is nice, competitiveness is import. A rising tide of obtainable money lifts all boats, I assume.

That stated, there’s something distinct about European video games, and as I wrote yesterday, your individual membership’s monitor report performs an element. There isn’t a logical cause why Arsenal making a large number of a Champions League sport 15 years in the past ought to play any half in how we take into consideration a sport now, however within the minds of followers no less than, it does. That’s what Mikel Arteta has spoken about of late in the case of writing a brand new historical past. We’ve turned a comparatively new web page this season, there’s nonetheless a bit extra to fill in clearly, so let’s maintain the whole lot crossed we are able to do this.

Lastly for in the present day, I loved Amy’s piece in The Athletic (£) concerning the journey to Madrid, and the connections with those who soccer brings into your life:

It happens to me how a lot these soccer reminiscences are about friendships, about being a part of one thing exterior of our on a regular basis lives which hyperlinks us. You select your membership, or your membership chooses you, and as soon as these roots are established kinships develop.

It’s true on-line too, after all, however for those who’re fortunate sufficient to be at an enormous sport the place one thing particular occurs (whether or not it’s beating a Galactico membership or successful a trophy for instance), these issues are heightened. The reminiscences turn into indelible. I can barely bear in mind what I had for breakfast yesterday, however I bear in mind a lot concerning the journey to the Bernabeu in 2006 when Thierry Henry scored that objective. Who I used to be with (Hello Invoice, Chris!), the place we went, even what we ate after the sport.

Fingers crossed for extra of these reminiscences earlier than this season is out. Proper, I’ll depart it there for now. There’s an Ipswich preview podcast on Patreon proper now, however full disclosure it’s fairly gentle on Ipswich and heavy on Actual Madrid as Lewis and I talk about the 2 wins and what it means for this membership proper now.

Have an incredible Saturday of us.