Beating Juventus Sends Out A Statement
22 comments April 5th, 2006
Not only to those teams still in the Champions League, but perhaps more importantly to our domestic rivals. If we come through tonight, an Arsenal that has beaten Real Madrid and Juventus over two legs would have to be considered a realistic challenger for next year’s Premiership.
Being 2-0 up in a tie is a tricky position. Don’t get me wrong, it’s better than being 2-0 down, but you’re faced with the conundrum over whether to defend or attack. Some claim that “attack is the best form of defence”. Not if the other team counters and scores, it’s not.
The way to play is the way we did against Madrid at the Bernabeu. Limit the full-backs forays forward a little more, and allow Henry and the two breaking central midfielders to play in the space between midfield and attack. Bide our time, wait for a chance, and take it: if we score away from home, the tie is over. Juve won’t score four.
Early indications suggest that Fabregas and Eboue will both be fit, and that Freddie Ljungberg will return in place of Robert Pires. This is understandable. Although Pires was outstanding in the first leg, Ljungberg was equally good away to Real. What’s more, he offers more defensively than Pires, who unusally completed a full 90 minutes on Saturday.
A final word for the fans: whatever the press have written about us in the build-up to this game – that we’re the best football team in Europe, that Thierry’s the best in the world – ignore it. If we lose tonight we’ll get as much stick as ever.
Let’s hope we don’t, because our young players deserve this success.
Come on Arsenal.
