The MOTM call for this one was tough IMO. There were several great candidates. For me ultimately it was a toss-up between Rice (who was the inspirational engine of the team) and Saka (who overcame a ton of pressure and bullshit from the opposition, and a mediocre penalty, to score a sublime goal). But Martinelli, Merino, MLS, Kiwior, and a few others all had genuinely strong shouts too, and I wouldn’t have complained at all if any of them had won MOTM in the second leg.

But back to your point… Fast Gabi is playing like a man possessed right now. He has officially rediscovered his form and is absolutely tormenting opposition defenses. And it’s wonderful to see!

I want to know how Mikel Arteta managed to feature on the cover of a Blade Runner video game from 1997.

I hope Gary Neville is choking on his own miserable, rancid bile right now.

I am so relieved our 3-0 win wasn’t tarnished by a poor performance in Spain. In fact, the away leg really reinforced that win. The lads went to the Bernabeu and humbled the European champions! 5-1 on aggregate against one of the most formidable clubs in the world! These were results that us gooners will remember for many decades to come.

Cherish these results. Savour them. It doesn’t get much better than this as far as bearing opposition teams.

One of Bayern’s players attacking a ball boy for throwing the ball away from him. We’ll that was certainly an interesting choice!

Having just watched the extended highlights (I couldn’t watch the full match live due to having to work), some thoughts:

• That ref was definitely operating under the thumb of the home fans and the intimidating venue. Initially didn’t give a penalty for the foul on us. Initially gave a penalty for that Mbappe flop in the area. But fair play to him, he had the balls to do the right thing and refer to VAR.
• I’m sure the Madrid fans disagree, but VAR was on point today!
• Very poor penalty from Saka. Not sure what he was thinking.
• Huge cock-up by Saliba for their goal. Not sure what he was thinking with that complete lack of awareness around him. But credit to Vini Jr because that was still a tricky shot to pull off. Raya could really do nothing on that one.
• Saka’s run and finish for our first goal was absolutely perfect. And he was a constant threat. If only he’d fine better with that penalty it works have been pretty much a perfect performance from him.
• Kiwior was excellent in defense, as was MLS. Seemed like Timber was pulled out of position a bit, but Madrid were stronger down their left, so fair play to him. And he did okay overall.
• Odegaard did very well, aside from not having his shooting boots on (again). Rice and Partey also did very well in the middle of the park. We win this match in the middle of the pitch.
• Fast Gabi is back, baby! Burned their defender out and put a very calm, clinical finish past Cortois.
• That atmosphere was intense! Full credit to the lads for getting the job done there.
• Honestly, I am genuinely shocked by that result. I was hoping for a draw, or at least that maybe we’d squeak out a narrow loss.
• Madrid did not live up to expectations, but they are still a very good team. Thankfully their finishing was generally off. Overall a 2-1 win for us was a very fair result.
• PSG will be very tough. But if we can beat Madrid both home and away, we can beat PSG.

Come on you Gunners!!

Holy shit! The boys did it!

I don’t know. PSG are stomping on them. Villa might have been the easier opponent of the two.

Fuck, I could see that goal coming a mile away. That was shit defending for their fullback’s overlap.

Perfect goal timing right before those mass substitutions.

I guess not.

THOMAS!!!

That pigeon saw its life flash before its eyes with Leo’s shirt.

We need to get the ball out to Nwaneri more, so he can inside on the right. On the left, Gabi needs more support from Tierney on his outside. He’s being pushed out to the edge too close to the goal line, which isn’t where he really thrives.

Also, these attempts to take the ball to the goal line and low-cross it in aren’t working because Brentford’s defense is too organized. They look a little more vulnerable to t our diagonal passes into the area.

Yeah, it was. Gabi had trouble controlling the pad because it was a tricky ball. So that bought him an extra second. But that kind of a block is easy to get wrong, and he nailed it.

Yeah, it was a great headed finish from him. But he was definitely offside, unfortunately.

Yeah, that was dodgy as fuck. High tackle going across Gabi’s knee, and completely missed the ball.

There have been several stray passes from him so far.

Great save from Raya.

Tierney is really off the mark today. His awareness is mediocre and his passing has been not been good. Hopefully he can pick up the pace.

We’ll that corner didn’t work! Haha. Disappointing as I wanted to see what kind of a ball into the area Nwaneri could deliver.