Crime Today News
Can the Gunners come back ?
A one-goal arrear is not unsurmountable. PSG’s historic tendency to crumble in clutch moments and their own resoluteness to fight back from the brink would infuse comeback ambitions. But there are multiple impediments
Where do the goals arrive?
Even without a centre forward or a phalanx of goal-happy forwards, Arsenal mustered to score the fourth-most goals in the league. A diverse range of the cast has provided the strikes, yet they have sorely missed the laser-eyed precision of a natural goal-scorer. To compound their woes, PSG’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was infallible at the Emirates. But somehow, if they manage to beat him and score a goal, PSG’s back-line could creak, and in front of the baying home crowd, they could melt. Arsenal’s likeliest avenue seems the set-piece, an art they had super-specialised, and where PSG seems a fraction susceptible. Arsenal have a clear height advantage and clever movements inside the box to make the dead-ball swipes count.
How to stop Kvaratskhelia?
The Georgian, with the fleetest of feet and quickest of wits, was the best player on the field in the first leg. A supreme technician, he troubled Jurrien Timber, the right back, with both pace and trickery, ghosted through heavily guarded mazes without putting even a strand of hair out of place. His outside of the boot passes took some getting used to for the Arsenal defenders, as he assisted a goal, hatched several chances and nearly won a penalty. Not just in the attacking front, his interceptions and pressing helped PSG when defending too. His quietest period—towards the end of first half and the start of the second—was the times Arsenal buzzed. Towards the end, Timber seemed to get a gauge on Kvaratskhelia, but was still far from comfortable with him. Sadly, there are not many alternatives either. Ben White briefly returned and could offer more attacking impetus, but is prone to making rash challenges.
How to control the midfield?
Marshalled by the immaculate Vitinha, the midfield trio of PSG, Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves as his comrades, bossed Declan Rice and Co. They outmuscled and out-thought them, worked harder and showed more intelligence. Arsenal suffered from the absence of Thomas Partey, whose absence due to suspension forced Rice to assume a more withdrawn role, depriving them of cutting edge. Partey would return for the second leg and invariably bolsters Arsenal’s midfield, but they would require immense work rate to overshadow Vitinha and friends`. Disrupting the midfield balance is essential to destabilise PSG’s structure, which dishevelled the Arsenal’s press and pushed them onto the back foot for most of the game.
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