Mikel Arteta is expected to make a prompt comeback to help Arsenal’s chances of winning the Champions League.
The first team to be guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals of the Champions League is Arsenal. On a night of close but entertaining matches, the most notable outcome was the 7-1 triumph over PSV Eindhoven on the road.
With everything on the line for next week in France, Borussia Dortmund and Lille drew 1-1. Aston Villa returned to the Midlands with a two-goal lead after scoring twice in the closing minutes against Club Brugge. When Real Madrid travels across the Spanish capital to play their bitter rivals Atletico, they will need every bit of their slim lead.
Real Madrid and Villa are currently the favourites to advance from their match, but only Arsenal can be genuinely counted on to win. At this point in the first round of the last-16, they have a significant lead, and the next games are expected to be close contests as well.
While Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen couldn’t be separated in the Bundesliga last month, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain may have the better draw. Barcelona and Benfica played out a 5-4 hum-dinger during the group round, while Inter is expected to defeat Feyenoord over two legs in the other match that appears to be the most lopsided on paper.
As they prepare for what is nearly a given to be a second consecutive year in the quarterfinals, Arsenal will be looking out at this panorama. In addition to feeling quite confident after bringing down PSV, Mikel Arteta can be sure that things will get better yet.
His team wasn’t playing well going into the away leg against PSV. Needless to say, neither were their rivals. However, the display’s devastation and clinical tone will encourage hope going forward.
Arsenal is looking for solutions even though they are aware that they won’t have a natural striker for the remainder of the season. It is very likely that Arsenal will cause problems for all of their remaining rivals if Martin Odegaard continues to play at the same level as he did here.
As he steadily replaces Bukayo Saka on the right, Ethan Nwaneri is the true star of the show. Declan Rice, who is among the best in the world in that kind of mood, gave one of his most memorable all-around performances in the Netherlands.
Arteta is also aware that when things don’t work out, Arsenal can become stale and uncreative. Missing a striker has proven expensive in the Premier League title chase, but tight victories or even ground out draws are more significant in a knockout setting.
This makes the return of Saka something to keep an eye on. Arsenal are confident that he will be back after the international break along with Gabriel Martinelli – who has been selected to play for his country later this month as well in an indicator that things are moving in the correct path.
Both Saka and Martinelli will plan to be back to match sharpness by April 9, when the quarter-final opening legs are set to be played. Arsenal can be almost certain of their position against one of the Madrid sides as they play home before flying away one week later to conclude the tie.
That gives Saka and Martinelli a full month to focus their recovery and integration back into the team for those games. It is a target to aim for and a factor which really does change the picture for Arsenal.
With both wingers available, they are a stronger team, and if necessary, it will allow Nwaneri to play a more relaxed and natural midfield role. Another luxury is having the 17-year-old as a bench option.
Ben White comes next. Despite being on the bench in recent weeks, he is ahead of his attacking teammates. Due to a knee issue that kept him out for over three months, he has not yet started. Against PSV, White came on as a substitute in the second half.
White’s slow increase in game time can now also be precisely controlled by Arteta. The three will raise new concerns for any opponent later in the Champions League and are arguably among Arsenal’s best XI. After reaching this point without their assistance, continuing with their participation is the kind of boost that Arsenal’s competitors cannot match.
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