Chapter 666: Self-Knowledge
For Arsenal, this game was really won, although it looked like a 2-2 draw, but considering that this is an away game, it is already a good result to be able to score two goals; And it's a Champions League knockout game, with two away goals in hand, which is basically firmly in the hands of the initiative to qualify.
Although the two teams will have a second leg of the battle in a week to decide the competition for the last eight places in the Champions League, at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal can be said to have full confidence, and won two away goals at the San Siro Stadium, which also represents Arsenal's more confidence and confidence. As long as they guarantee not to concede goals at home, then Arsenal naturally has the initiative to advance; Even if there is another draw between the Emirates Stadium and AC Milan, the Gunners will be able to take advantage of the crucial away goal initiative to advance to the quarter-finals!
Arsene Wenger has led Arsenal to the last 16 of the Champions League for 12 consecutive years, and Arsenal are now league leaders. They now look set to continue their strong run this season, and they remain favourites for the title on two of the most important fronts, the league and the Champions League. Arsenal's players have a lot of Champions League ambitions and now it looks like the Gunners are doing well because they can get the job done.
Two to two, there's no reason why Arsenal shouldn't feel satisfied at this time; Xiao Qing and his teammates are very happy because they have been able to guarantee a good performance this season. Of course, Arsenal's players know that it is difficult in the Champions League, but now that they have once again achieved a good 'victory' in this competitive field, Arsenal's players naturally appear more confident and confident at this time.
Arsenal's players are ambitious. Two away goals were scored at the San Siro Stadium. Arsenal can't be said to have half a foot on the threshold of the quarter-finals. But it does put Arsenal in a very advantageous position; The advantage of the first away and then home schedule is also reflected at this time, the second leg of the game moved to the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal can adjust the team's tactics according to their own situation, whether it is to defend or attack is now completely in the hands of Arsenal, and AC Milan now has no choice but to attack frantically at the Emirates Stadium; This is good news for Arsenal as they have the strategic initiative in place.
"Sweetheart, are you going shopping?" Xiao Qing, who returned to London, was in a very good mood, and Xiao Qing, who was holding Pixie, said with a hippie smile. Although he knew that the proposal to go shopping at this time was basically impossible to implement.
Pixie glanced at Xiao Qing, Xiao Qing pretended to be crazy and stupid many times during this time; Since Xiao Qing stepped on two boats was exposed, the frequency of Xiao Qing pretending to be crazy and stupid has been rising, as long as it comes to more critical or sensitive things, Xiao Qing is basically a gag to get by, and now this is what Xiao Qing is good at.
"Aren't you afraid of being photographed by the paparazzi again? Or is it that you and the German woman are completely finished, and now we can hold hands and go shopping? Sure enough, Xiao Qing stretched his waist and complained that he was too tired to go to Milan, and the team had no time to rest at all, and he spent the past few days on the plane. It's always been a race to catch up.
Arsenal are still busy at the moment, when the Champions League is back in action. Arsenal naturally need to start more games at this time; Especially considering that many times the Champions League knockout rounds need to run away, which is likely to be going abroad, this is a distant away game, which is definitely not easy. Arsenal, who are fighting on multiple fronts, are now about to usher in the FA Cup, which naturally makes Arsenal need to endure a more intensive schedule at this time.
In fact, returning to London is also a small test for the Arsenal players, and it can be regarded as a double game in a week, as they have an FA Cup game on the horizon. However, for Arsenal now, the FA Cup is really a chicken rib, and Arsenal does not need to care about the FA Cup glory at all.
Arsenal won the FA Cup last season, which is considered to be the oldest cup competition, and it does have a certain amount of gold; But compared to the league and the Champions League, the FA Cup is really not worth mentioning; And now the FA Cup is only in the round of 16, and Arsenal's focus on the FA Cup at this time is obviously not worth the loss. Although it occupies the initiative to advance in the first leg, but in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal also needs to pay attention to AC Milan's crazy counterattack, Arsenal still need more attention now, and they also need to be more prepared.
Back in London, in fact, Xiao Qing and most of his teammates are still choosing to rest at this time, for the next FA Cup, it is obvious that Arsenal will not do their best, and even at this time many people can understand that Arsenal has actually given up the FA Cup; Although the next opponent in the FA Cup is the relatively average black cat Sunderland, but for Arsenal, the league and the Champions League need to be accumulated, and at this time there is no need for the Gunners to stretch the front too wide, which will only make Arsenal more tired.
Playing on multiple fronts is really a huge test, and it requires squad depth; Obviously, Arsenal's squad depth is average, and the most important thing is that Arsenal are relatively tight on all fronts now, and they simply don't have much energy to ensure that the team can maintain excellent fighting power all the time.
The league and the Champions League have now entered a critical period, and the task is naturally even more difficult for Arsenal now, they now need to make sure that they do not make any mistakes as much as possible, and they need to make sure that they play at their best in the crucial games at this time. So now Arsenal needs to make a choice, although the FA Cup is an honor worth fighting for, but for Arsenal they need more to play well in the league and the Champions League.
Wilshere's season is basically reimbursed, and with the addition of the main defender Mertesacker, who also needs almost a month to recuperate, plus some other players' injuries of all sizes, Arsenal still have a relatively serious injury situation now. At this time, Arsenal naturally needs to be more competitive in the league and the Champions League, so this is also the main reason why Xiao Qing is more leisurely and able to live with Pixie; Xiao Qing and his teammates are now focusing on recovering fitness, and in the FA Cup match between the team and Sunderland, Arsenal should be a substitute and the youth team will play.
The Arsenal players are very happy now, the team is now in a good momentum, firmly occupying the position of the league leader, although there is no particularly huge lead now, but Arsenal can also stabilize the situation; In the Champions League, Arsenal are now also grabbing the initiative to advance to the quarter-finals, which is very good news for the Gunners, because they hope to be one of the best teams in history this season, and they hope to make history to complete the Champions League three times in a row!
Arsenal's ambitions are not small, which naturally requires more effort from the Gunners; It's not easy to make history, especially since it's the most competitive Champions League, and if you want to achieve the most successful results at this time, you naturally need the guarantee of strength and some luck. What Arsenal needs now is more accumulation for the Champions League, their own family knows their own affairs, Arsenal knows that their squad depth is insufficient, and Arsenal also knows that their defensive ability is relatively thin, so Arsenal needs to play to their strengths and avoid weaknesses.
Arsenal understand their own shortcomings better than any other team, but Arsenal also know their own strengths more than any other team; Arsenal's starting lineup is still very competitive, as long as the team's health is ensured, Arsenal definitely has the strength to wrestle with any team.
Although Arsenal's performance on the defensive side is worrying a lot, Arsenal's offensive performance in the midfield still amazes everyone; The Gunners' terrifying front line is something that makes everyone feel amazed, Xiao Qing doesn't need absolute ball possession many times now, and it even seems that Xiao Qing doesn't have a strong sense of presence many times. But this can be regarded as a transformation of Xiao Qing, and now he is more accustomed to letting his teammates have an excellent performance at this time.
And Xiao Qing also performed very well when the team needed him, he was able to step up in time, and he was able to turn the tide at the most critical moment; Xiao Qing's performance on the court is now free, he doesn't need to deliberately emphasize his existence at all, what he needs is just a final word at a critical moment, that's all, Xiao Qing has always believed that he can do very well, in fact, Xiao Qing's current performance is indeed like this.
Just three days after returning to London, the non-stop Gunners Arsenal visited the Stadium of Light to challenge the Black Cats Sunderland; The round of 16 of the English FA Cup was launched, and the main players of Arsenal basically chose to rest in this game, Xiao Qing and others stayed in London, and now they only need to prepare for the next Champions League knockout round, as for this FA Cup, it doesn't matter if they lose. Sunderland won the game at half-time thanks to a goal from midfielder Richardson as they knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League.
Arsenal's players are very calm, and now the Gunners only have the league and the Champions League left, which are also the two most important fronts, in fact, Arsenal is really doing a good job! (To be continued......)