There is the same gigantic stake of securing a European final. However, the atmosphere in Munich is much more charged with electricity than in London, before the reunions. “We must not expect what happened between Paris and Bayern. But not at all,” anticipates Robert Pirès, actor of the only Champions League final played by Arsenal in 2006. “It’s going to be highly structured on both sides, highly defensive. It can be tough physically and nervously, you can also leave some feathers there.”
“These semi-finals offer ‘the two facets of football’,” emphasizes the former Gunners winger. “I enjoyed watching PSG-Bayern. Atlético-Arsenal, it’s another way of playing football. There are some who don’t like it, no problem. But as a player, it’s an art to defend well. And both teams do it well.”
In the first leg, the locked match was decided on penalties: those scored by Viktor Győkeres and Julian Alvarez, and the one awarded to Englishman Eberechi Eze, finally canceled after VAR review, much to the fury of Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal’s coach has led his team to the semifinals of the major European competition for the second consecutive year, an unprecedented feat in the club’s history. And they are in a good position to win the Premier League title, 22 years after their last one in 2004.
However, his team offers a much less exciting game than in previous years, more restrictive, sometimes slow, “boring” as some observers describe it. “Mikel Arteta is aware of that. But what is asked of him is to win,” dismisses Robert Pirès. “People will say: ‘They only know how to defend, score on set pieces.’ No problem, but why don’t others do it? Since it’s a weapon, the corner or the free kick. People talk, criticize. Me, it makes me laugh.”
“Antoine Griezmann will approach what could be his last European summit with the Colchoneros.”
For one match, Arsenal can overcome everything in their path, and Atlético is well aware of it: the Spaniards were struck down (4-0) in October at the Emirates during the group stage. However, the biggest strength of the English side remains their defensive base, especially the golden triangle formed by goalkeeper David Raya and his center-backs, Gabriel and William Saliba.
In the Champions League this season, the Londoners have conceded only six goals in 13 games, including the two against the Kazakhs from Kairat Almaty (3-2) on a day when the starters were rested.
“It’s the option taken on Saturday by Diego Simeone, the Atlético coach, who managed to win in Valencia (2-0) with a completely revamped team ahead of the showdown in London. Antoine Griezmann, who came on in the second half, had time to provide an assist and gain more confidence before approaching what could be his last European summit with the Colchoneros.”
