Ok, so I MIGHT have missed a few weeks of the season there, but still, I’m back now, so let’s not panic. Don’t think I missed much anyway, aside from wondering if I’d ever get to watch MY team play again, anyway, that’s all been swept under the carpet for now and here we are, something something Spotify something.
Anyway, I am aiming to get the site back to daily updates cos I know our reader(s) has missed us, so let’s see how long this lasts, probably around a similar amount of time we lasted in the Super League I’d imagine.
Back to the stuff going on ON the pitch, and we face an old adversary in Unai Emery this evening in our Europa League semi-final against Villarreal at El Madrigal. However, this isn’t a trendy new Indian Restaurant but the home of the Spanish side Emery is now in charge of since being in charge of Arsenal the time before, which really didn’t work out that well if we’re being honest.
Just as things started to look a bit lost, with Kieran Tierney out seemingly long-term, Aubameyang with all kinds of personal problems, ailments and diseases, Lacazette limping off with serious Hamtwang, we even found ourselves actually missing David Luiz at the back (I know right!) it seems as though things may have taken an unexpected yet positive turn for once.
Mikel Arteta has announced that the aforementioned four mentioned COULD be back in line for a return against Emery’s side tonight which comes as a timely boost given this is a very plausible way into the Champions League should we somehow go all the way and lift the trophy.
We would however have to get past Man United or Roma (who also meet tonight for their first leg) in the final – no easy task, but should we get there, it would be a one-off game, and we owe the Europa League a decent final performance after our no-show against Chelsea in Baku.
All four of those players seemed to be a long way off before Arteta’s presser, so I can’t see them all returning, but we’ll take one of the frontmen and one of the defenders if we had to choose, with the other two on the bench, just for the psychological boost that it would give ahead of the clash.
There’s also been a bit of a doubt surrounding Odegaard in recent games so fingers crossed he’s also fit, and it would seem likely that Matryan (no space) will replace Leno in between the sticks given the German’s howler against Everton last Friday night and Arteta’s tendency to go with the cup keeper (no, not the tea lady, although another howler from Matryan and she’d be next in line for the number one shirt).
Either way, the game should be a very entertaining one, and let’s hope our current manager ends up on top, while our previous manager is left with Spanish omelette on his face.
Sadly, it sounds like Emery has his full squad to choose from, and in terms of details, the game kicks off at 8pm UK time, is LIVE on BT Sport 3 with no fans in attendance.
COME ON THE ARSENAL!