We’ll start out with a bit of perspective.
That was Arsenal’s first Champions League in 7 years. It was our first quarter-final in 14 years. Only two of our starting 11 players had played in the Champions League before this season. We just lost a game to a Bayern Munich that won the CL 3 years ago – hasn’t been out of the comp in living memory – and had 8 CL winners in the game-day squad.
Below is the record of Manchester City. The most monied club in the world. Best CEO, best manager, best coaches, best data team, best players, best facilities, best scouts, highest wage bill, top 2 transfer budget… and they have won it once since 2011.
They also went out against a Madrid side that I would say would finish 4th in the Premier League at best.
There is no shame in what happened last night. We conceded 3 stupid goals in transition to a side that is way more experienced than us. We didn’t have the game management or the stardust to make it count in a tough game.
Barcelona, Atleti, and City is fine company to be keeping on the exit ramp.
At the highest level, which is where we are, it’s a game of fine margins and sometimes you come up short.
We came up short.
The plan was a good one. We kept the ball for spells but didn’t press high. Then we worked off a trigger and went hard at Bayern. Arsenal created great chances but couldn’t finish.
The second half went the way of the Villa game. We lost sight of the plan we were s...