The Beast appeared to win for fifteen minutes, but Beauty defeated Arsenal, leaving us to wonder once more, "what might have been?" in a match when their "arrogant" hero was humbled and we learned exactly what Mikel Arteta's team was lacking in Thomas Partey—mostly negative things.
Anyone who offered an upbeat perspective on Arsenal's lackluster performance at the Emirates as a significant lift ahead of this away match was likely doing so more out of hope than expectation given the circumstances of the first leg.
We expected an improvement in stopping PSG's rapid breakouts, but the Ghanaian's contribution to the quarterfinal victory over Real Madrid was more significant due to the freedom he gave Declan Rice to advance than his own ability to fill midfield voids.
PSG often broke on Arsenal, and Partey was usually nowhere to be seen, so we didn't get that improvement. Instead, we got six long throw-ins and a couple of costly mistakes from Partey in the first fifteen minutes after Mikel Arteta, or perhaps set-piece maestro Nicolas Jover, told the Gunners to bully the opposition in a happy example of a Premier League team going back to type on the continent.
Prior to the game, Martin Keown had advised his former team to maximize their "physicality." This obvious advantage was demonstrated by Mikel Arteta's team's most aggressive and successful pressing, as well as—and perhaps more charmingly—their ability to get it hoyed into the box whenever possible.
The Italian goalkeeper, who was in the right place at the right time as one of Partey's throws dropped onto Martinelli's knee and forced him to stop, was given a couple of early opportunities to demonstrate his exceptional shot-stopping ability once again after being excellent in the first leg.
However, after he dropped to his left and pushed Martin Odegaard's shot wide, we wondered if we had ever seen a better save. PSG really didn't like it. Unfortunately for Arsenal, we suspect Gianluigi Donnarumma really did.
The fact that someone can a) react so fast to a shot hit as sweetly as that, b) see it through at least three pairs of legs, c) use his entire 6' 5" body to get down to it, and d) have the wrist power to push it around the post after all of that is beyond our comprehension.
It was absolutely outstanding, and even though Arsenal was winning—or maybe because of it—it seemed like the visitors would soon be wishing they had capitalized on their lead.
It was an equal game when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia curled a breathtaking attempt onto the post to shake a terrified PSG out of their malaise. Arsenal lost because they lacked attacking creativity, while PSG created good chances because of their propensity for taking needless chances.
Fabian Ruiz's goal wasn't consistent with PSG's overall threat since he chested the ball to his left on the box's edge following a poor clearance from Partey before smashing it past David Raya with a slight deflection.
The majority of their threat came from their forwards' unparalleled speed and counterattacking ability, which was aided by Arsenal and, we hate to say it, main offender Myles Lewis-Skelly. Jamie Carragher, like us, is a huge admirer of the teenager's "football arrogance," but it was problematic on a night when he was humbled.
It was his dislike of simplicity that was discovered, not the handball, which is foolish and should be stopped right away. Just think of how absurd it would be if that were what kept Arsenal from making it to the final.
In the first half, Lewis-Skelly made a haphazard pass forward that we can't picture any other full-back playing in his position, and Declan Rice wonderfully denied Bradley Barcola. Additionally, he attempted to use his body to turn an opponent and lose possession four times instead of making a straightforward pass; the final attempt resulted in a caution following an entirely needless wrestling he lost with Barcola.
We understand that he is 18 years. He will grow and improve. Partey cannot justify his lack of experience. Partey attempted a clumsy bit of skill on the edge of his box, which Achraf Hakimi took full advantage of to give PSG a 3-0 aggregate lead. David Raya had just made an outstanding penalty save from a slow run-up and wait penalty from Vitinha, which the Arsenal goalkeeper has struggled with in recent weeks.
Against a team that has mostly survived by losing European games for the past ten years, Bukayo Saka put up a valiant fight back but then lost a golden opportunity to add interest.
However, in reality, it never felt as though a comeback was imminent. Arsenal isn't truly like that. The club is stuck, which makes you think, "What might have been?"
What could have happened if Partey hadn't missed the first leg? If they had pressed as boldly in the first leg as they did today, what may have happened? What could have happened if they had scored once or twice during those opening fifteen minutes of complete control?
They simply don't get it, to the extent that people may start wondering what would happen if they fired Arteta. We might be going to find out soon. People, it's on.
His tactics were excellent here, but other from winning the Premier League or the Champions League, there is nothing he can do to allay doubters about his capacity to persevere and take home that elusive major title.
Strangely, even with this obvious progress in Europe, it still seems like they're a long way off. Since this is Arsenal, they always manage to lose.
Comments