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Morning all.
Let’s begin with the draw for the Champions League which was made yesterday, and we’ll face Porto. We’ll be away for the primary leg on February twenty first, and at dwelling for the second on March twelfth. It was 2010 the final time we performed them, a 5-0 win on the Emirates the place Nicklas Bendtner bagged a hat-trick, whereas Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Eboue chipped in with one every.
Our reward for that win was Barcelona within the subsequent spherical, and at dwelling we had that well-known 2-2 sport when Cesc Fabregas scored a late penalty with a damaged leg. The return leg in Spain was a bit totally different although. Bendtner by some means aggravated Lionel Messi by placing us 1-0 up however earlier than we’d even completed celebrating within the stands, he’d equalised, and went on to attain 4 that evening.
Certain, it’s a must to caveat that by acknowledging our again 4 contained Mikael Silvestre, nevertheless it was type of superb to observe a participant of that expertise do what he did that evening. I feel that cemented my perception that he was the very best participant on this planet at the moment, and probably the best ever. Which I feel he proved over time. Anyway, let’s hope beating Porto this time round results in a barely much less difficult opponent within the subsequent spherical.
We’ll must get by them first although. They’re going properly within the Primera Liga, sitting simply three factors off leaders Sporting, and on the draw yesterday, Sporting Director Edu mentioned:
We will see how they’re taking part in, how organized they’re, and the gamers that they’ve. Porto is a membership that it’s a must to be actually ready to play towards or we’ll have issues, so what now we have to focus on is sustaining our ranges and the best way we’re taking part in.
Lots to debate round that nearer to the time. The complete draw is as follows:
Champions League Spherical of 16 draw
Porto v Arsenal
Napoli v Barcelona
Paris St-Germain v Actual Sociedad
Inter Milan v Atletico Madrid
PSV Eindhoven v Borussia Dortmund
Lazio v Bayern Munich
Copenhagen v Manchester Metropolis
RB Leipzig v Actual Madrid
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Reflecting on what has occurred within the Premier League during the last couple of days, it was so vital that we took most factors after Metropolis slipped up towards Crystal Palace and Liverpool and Man Utd drew. The inevitable questions on Pep Guardiola’s group that appear to pop up each season are being requested once more. It’s essentially the most fantastic time of the yr when individuals marvel ‘Are Metropolis susceptible this time round?’, earlier than they go on a run of 19 straight wins, with no accidents due to their particular vegetable weight loss program, and take the title with a few video games to spare. Write them off at your peril.
Liverpool didn’t look nice towards United, however there’s one thing about that fixture which regularly produces an underwhelming sport. Essentially the most fascinating factor about it was the late sending off for Diogo Dalot, responsible of committing two acts of dissent inside 4 seconds which led to Michael Oliver issuing a crimson card. It’s arduous to take these items severely now. I don’t need to go off on refs once more, however seeing them crack down on dissent or managers waving or celebrating too arduous, whereas gamers are being allowed week after week to bash opponents within the head is only a bit bizarre to me.
In seriousness, I feel it’s setting a harmful precedent, as a result of whereas most gamers don’t go round elbowing individuals within the face and head, there are some who love a little bit of that, and the officiating has advised them that it’s open season on whoever you fancy. Don’t fear although, in the event you’re a supervisor asking why it’s one in every of your gamers has been assaulted GBH-style, you’ll get a yellow card. I actually fear somebody goes to get severely harm, and I don’t perceive the crack-down on comparatively innocent stuff whereas these items continues to go unpunished.
As for Michael Oliver, it’s fairly humorous how he can hear a double-dissent so clearly within the cacophony of noise late in a Premier League sport, however by some means not see this as a second yellow card offence.
Lastly, let’s hope that Luton City captain Tom Lockyer recovers totally from the cardiac arrest he suffered throughout their sport towards Bournemouth on the weekend. What it means for his profession at this level isn’t vital, his well being comes first, and I’m certain he’ll make the very best determination within the fullness of time. It seemed like a massively traumatic expertise for everybody there, he’s now secure in hospital, and fingers crossed all goes properly for him and his household.
For extra on the weekend’s sport, check out The 30 over on Patreon – our Premier League round-up podcast. There’s additionally a brand new Arsecast Additional for you beneath in the event you haven’t had an opportunity to pay attention but. That’s it for now, have a superb one.
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