Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Tonight may well bring around the return of Champions League action but Arsenal’s participation in the competition has all but ended after their 5-1 demolition at the hands of Bayern Munich three weeks ago. You could almost say it’s cruel that they have to play this 2nd leg but such is the nature of the competition it’s not as if they can just decide not to play.
After Saturday’s defeat to Liverpool at Anfield this is the last game that Arsene Wenger needs to follow up with. Win and critics will ask “where was that performance in the 1st leg” and defeat will just turn the pressure up on Wenger even further as his managerial status come the end of May is still very much up in the air.
The big headline from Saturday’s game was the fact that Alexis Sanchez was only involved as a substitute, many watching felt that perhaps Wenger had lost the plot but then there was a supposed twist in the tale with the news that broke on Sunday that there was a reported bust up between Sanchez and his teammates.
Wenger would later say that there has not been a bust-up but then it boils down to who do you believe and if there was not a bust up and Sanchez was dropped for tactical reasons then you can only say that’s an error by the 67 year old Frenchmen. Whoever is telling the truth no-one really comes out of this in a positive light and it begs the further question as to whether or not Wenger has lost the dressing room.
The decision he will have to make is whether or not to recall Alexis Sanchez for this Evening’s encounter with Bayern. Mesut Ozil is already set to miss out through illness again after not featuring against Liverpool, so Arsenal could be once again starting with neither of their two starts that are still in protracted contract talks with the club.
Does Arsene Wenger name a strong side for this dead rubber or is it a chance to name some of his fringe players, on the flip side just how lightly will Bayern take this knowing that only a 4-0 or 5-0 win will see them dumped out of the competition. You would imagine that Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti will treat the tie with respect but it’s going to be a strange one to watch.
The scoreline is irrelevant unless Arsenal beat Bayern by an even better performance than what the German giants offered in the 1st leg. Should Arsenal win it will once again show their habit of winning when the pressure is off much to the frustration of their fans. You can only suggest that Wenger will want to get this one over and done with and then prepare fully for the visit of Lincoln in the F.A. Cup on Saturday. Result? Your guess is as good as mine but it will be Bayern who confirm their place in the Quarter Finals by the end of the night.
