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Arsenal travel to Monaco to try and get three goals and a clean sheet so that they can finally move to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League after a number of failed attempts.The Gunners last went to the quarters back in 2010 and since then it has been a steady procession of getting knocked out in the Round of 16. After finally getting what seemed to be the luck of the draw with Monaco, Arsenal did an Arsenal and shot themselves in the foot in the first leg, giving away three goals at the Emirates and essentially giving the pass to the next round to the French side on a gold platter.But all is not lost yet, and all that the Gunners need to do is score three goals against the stingiest defence in European competition and not let them score any. Here are a few things they need to do to achieve that minor miracle:
#1 Keep a clean sheet
All the talk would be about Arsenal’s forward line, but equally important will be how well Arsenal defend in this match. If the first leg was anything to go by, there aren’t high hopes that this defence can keep a clean sheet. But with Arsenal in fine form in the last few games, as well as seemingly having learnt how to play without the ball, there is still hope for the fans that Arsenal can do what is needed.
While the entire team will be responsible for defending, the focus will obviously be on the back 5. Per Mertesacker has not been at his best off late and has had to thank Laurent Koscielny a number of times for being able to quell off the danger whenever the big German messed up. But such lapses won’t be helpful for Arsenal this time around. Monaco would be looking to kill off the game early and the Arsenal defence needs to be on its toes to give the gunners a chance to pull off a miracle.
#2 More efficiency in front of goal
The problem with Arsenal has never been that they don’t create chances; it’s that they don’t take the chances they create. A number of times the Gunners pass when they should be taking a shot and that simply will not work tonight. And sometimes, the players dally far too much on the ball before taking a shot, which ruins the opportunity for the team. One need not go any further than the first leg for a prime example.
Giroud was certainly not at his best when he missed a couple of chances that would have completely turned the game. More recently, Theo Walcott was guilty of not taking his chances when he was presented with a couple of wonderful opportunities in the game against West Ham. Even Ozil was guilty, when he crossed to Walcott rather than take a shot when he was in front of goal. It’s important that the Arsenal players understand that they won’t get too many opportunities and they should make full use of whatever they get.
#3 Keep possession
While ceding possession to the opposition has worked wonders for Arsenal in the past couple of months, that approach certainly won’t do for this particular game. While the new gameplan has shown spectacular success starting with the game against Manchester City at the turn of the year, it worked because the opposition were also looking to score and so presented opportunities to counter attack.
However, it is all but a certainty that Monaco will have no such intentions and would be more than happy to keep what they have, and sit back to defend. The onus will be on Arsenal to take control of the ball and make something happen, and for that, they’ll need to hog the ball for 90 minutes.
#4 Start Theo Walcott
When Arsenal brought on Theo Walcott on the hour mark in the first leg, he gave the outlet that the Gunners were crying out for in the game till then. His pace on the wings will give the Arsenal midfield something to aim for, and will create more width on the pitch, something that was lacking in the first leg.
Walcott may not be the most efficient finisher around, but he is made for games such as this, where his pace will be a headache for Monaco’s defence. He will be pull the defenders away if nothing else, and can create space for the rest of the team with his direct runs.
#5 Gee up the travelling fans
One of the biggest advantages Arsenal will have travelling to Monaco is that the stadium holds only just over 18,000 fans, which, as you would have guessed, doesn’t make for the most intimidating of atmospheres. While Arsenal have had to contend with playing their second legs in cauldrons like the Allianz Arena and Camp Nou in the past, the Stade Loius II would be a welcome relief for the players.
It also means that the travelling Arsenal fans can play a much bigger role in creating an atmosphere of their own, and if the Arsenal players can show the passion on the field, you can be sure the fans will be up for it with their songs and chanting throughout the 90 minutes. Creating such an atmosphere will put additional pressure on the Monaco players, which Arsenal can use to its advantage.
