Analysing Arsenal’s and City’s UCL Performances
Last night saw the conclusion of the quarter-finals stage of the UEFA Champions League. Unfortunately for English football, Arsenal and Manchester City, both EPL title contenders this season, bowed out of the competition.
While City pushed Real Madrid hard, and all the way to penalties, Arsenal lost 0-1 in normal time in Munich to mark yet another UEFA elimination at the hands of German giants Bayern.
So what impressed us and what left us indifferent about the English clubs’ struggles in this Champions League season? And what does it all mean for the big picture?
Bernardo Silva’s Penalty
Yes, we are starting here.
Would he have been one of the 5 names on the sheet if Haaland and De Bruyne were still on the pitch? Only Pep will know the true answer, but we suspect that he would not have taken a pen.
Will he take one again in a similar situation? Time will tell, but if Bukayo Saka can take high-pressure penalties again after missing one for England at the Euros 3 years ago, we are quite certain that Silva will be doing it too.
Was the Stage Too Big for Arsenal?
The Gunners did well last week to draw 2-2 at home in the first leg of this tie, but they faded after a promising start at the Allianz Arena last night.
Bayern were the dominant side in the second half, hitting the woodwork twice before Kimmich’s winning goal.
Arsenal seemed a bit shy. Was it the lack of experience at this stage? Fatigue? A dip in morale after the home loss to Aston Villa? Probably a bit of all 3.
Bayern ‘own’ Arsenal
https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1780702827003904198
The Bavarian outfit have eliminated Arsenal for the fifth time in the UCL knockout stages. Is it something about a cannon that just annoys Bayern?
City Were One Goal Short
Despite dominating Real Madrid for 120 minutes at the Etihad last night, the Cityzens could only conjure up one goal from an xG of 2.59. They then relied on penalties to go through to the semis, where Antonio Rüdiger scored the winning goal to leave City at home.
How will this affect the run-in of the EPL title race? Will they find their scoring boots again?
Premier League Will Probably Not Get a Fifth UCL Spot
According to Opta Analyst, Italy’s Serie A and Germany’s Bundesliga are the most likely to receive the extra UCL spots for the 2024-25 season
With England now only having 3 teams left in UEFA competitions, and Liverpool and West Ham unlikely to overcome their first leg deficits tonight, it looks increasingly likely that the 5th placed team in the Premier League at the end of the season will not qualify for the UCL.
Harry Kane and Eric Dier have dented Tottenham’s hopes by eliminating their biggest rivals. Football is funny sometimes, isn’t it?