The Warm-Up: Arsenal’s big guns deliver, while Chelsea’s sits on the bench
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Updated 03/05/2019 at 08:07 GMT
Plus: Jose Mourinho aims a double dig at Gary Neville and Paul Scholes and we praise Xavi, the now past pass master...
Alex Lacazette celebrates scoring the 1st Arsenal goal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final First Leg match between Arsenal and Valencia at Emirates Stadium on May 02, 2019 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
FRIDAYS BIG HEADLINES
Strikers save the day for Arsenal
Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of Arsenal’s last European trophy: the 1993-94 Cup Winners’ Cup. This was a defensive triumph above all with three successive rounds up to and including the final featuring a 1-0 to the Arsenal. If Arsenal do win the Europa League this season, and a 3-1 home win over Valencia in last night’s semi-final first leg strongly suggests they will at least reach the final, the words ‘defensive triumph’ will be nowhere to be seen.
A 3-1 lead puts Arsenal in a formidable position and a very useful last-minute goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang transformed the complexion of the tie completely: a nervy second leg in Spain now has the comfort of a cushion. But how comfortable can you really be with a defence as bad as Arsenal’s?
After conceding three goals in three successive Premier League games, losing all three matches, it might be churlish to point out the negatives but basic defensive principles were missing again when Valencia opened the scoring far too easily when a corner was headed back across goal and Mouctar Diakhaby wandered in between three Arsenal players to nod home.
No, if Arsenal do get to Baku and win the Europa League it will likely be down to the two players who made the difference last night: Aubameyang, with his late winner, and Alexandre Lacazette with his two goals. Two fantastic strikers who have now combined for 42 goals and 17 assists between them this season. When you have forward players of that quality, even Shkodran Mustafi can be accommodated. Sometimes. As Valencia boss Marcelino said:
They have two very good strikers, I don’t know how many millions of euros they cost. If you make even the slightest mistake at this level players like that can take advantage of that.
The rickety state of Arsenal’s defence means this one is far from done yet. Although Unai Emery’s attempts to portray it as a straight toss of a coin were obvious nonsense. “It will be very difficult over there," said Emery. "The tie is 50-50. I am very proud of our work. We know how tough Valencia will be in front of their fans next week."
Anything is possible with a defence, or attack, like Arsenal’s.
Hazard benched as Chelsea draw
The prospect of an all-English final looks pretty promising after Chelsea secured a 1-1 draw away at Eintracht Frankfurt in the night’s other semi-final. Luka Jovic, wanted by all the big clubs, opened the scoring with his 25th goal of the season. Pedro responded and David Luiz later hit the woodwork for Chelsea, who, thanks to that away goal, hold a slim advantage going into the second leg.
And this without Eden Hazard for most of the game after Maurizio Sarri opted to rest his best player for a European semi-final. Currently sitting two points ahead of Arsenal in fourth place, Chelsea know their easiest route back into the Champions League is currently to finish fourth. Win at home to Watford and away to Leicester and they are back in the big time. For Sarri it was the logical decision.
For a player that has 70 matches in a season, starting him from the bench is a normal reaction. We have to play again in 62 hours. I don't speak with the players that I want to put on the bench. He is a player, so I have to do it otherwise I have to speak to everyone. He was a normal way, joking as usual. He knows the truth very well.
Jan the man is fine
After all the hand-wringing over Tottenham’s failure to treat Jan Vertonghen’s apparent concussion seriously enough in the Champions League match against Ajax, it turns out he didn’t have concussion after all. As a club statement explained:
Following a thorough review over the past 48 hours by our medical staff as well as by an independent neurologist with special interest in sport-related concussion today, it has been concluded that Jan Vertonghen did not suffer a concussion... The Belgium defender suffered an injury to his nose due to a challenge during the game which resulted in heavy bleeding. He was deemed fit to continue playing after an on-field assessment. All Football Association concussion guidelines were followed.
This episode just highlights how tricky the concussion issue can be. Tottenham basically did everything right and still got panned for two days straight.
IN OTHER NEWS
Jose Mourinho doing what Jose Mourinho loves best on RT: settling scores with people who have wronged him. In this case certain TV pundits.
HAT TIP
It’s always worth reading Wright Thompson at ESPNFC and his dispatch from a city desperate to win the league is no different...
RETRO CORNER
The great Xavi has announced he will retire from football after 21 years in the game. The best passer of all time? Michael Laudrup and Lionel Messi might have something to say about that but there’s no questioning the extreme quality of his body of work. And he will also be remembered for his extreme fortune in winning the Qatari lottery! Wow! How did that happen! Amazing!
Anyway, here’s 10 of his best passes:
COMING UP
The almost-entirely-consequence-free match between Everton and Burnley is this week’s disappointing Friday Night Football fare. Why not tune in for some proper drama as the semi-finals of the snooker World Championship continue today on Eurosport.
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