The Warm-Up: Arsenal stage tragic tribute to Arsene Wenger
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Updated 27/04/2018 at 07:27 GMT
Tom Adams glances back at some familiar failings in Arsenal's tragic tribute to their departing manager...
Arsenal's French striker Alexandre Lacazette (2nd L) reacts after Atletico equalize
Image credit: Getty Images
FRIDAY'S BIG HEADLINES
Griez lightning
Everyone was expecting to see a tribute to Arsene Wenger. And they got one. Just not the one they expected.
Wasting chance after chance as an opposition goalkeeper played to a supreme standard, while being beaten by a combination of a straight long ball over the top and some comically incompetent defending: Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid was the Banter Era distilled into 90 minutes. All that was missing was a late cameo from Sebastien Squillaci. “It’s a story we’ve seen before,” a crushed Wenger admitted.
Sure, Arsenal have a chance of going through to the Europa League final. Like Kanye West has a chance of becoming a much-loved artist again and not a disturbingly deranged tweeter. But if we are being honest, the tie was probably lost when Laurent Koscielny let Antoine Griezmann get two metres ahead of him from a long ball and then failed to clear when he could have rescued the situation; David Ospina made a mess of his attempted save as the ball rolled through his legs; and Shkodran Mustafi slipped at a moment when he could feasibly have blocked the ball from going in.
One lapse in 90 minutes from Arsenal, yes, but in circumstances which were entirely predictable. “Once we were 1-0 up, the task was clear for us: not to be caught on a long ball,” Wenger said. “They could not combine enough to come out and create a chance. The only chance they could have was on a long ball.”
With Atletico Madrid rocking after 11 minutes after Sime Vrsaljko and Diego Simeone had both been sent off, Arsenal simply had to kill the tie last night. But a combination of Jan Oblak’s excellence and Arsenal’s shocking finishing meant that of 28 shots, only one chance, a header from Alexandre Lacazette, was converted. In a twisted way, this was a fitting tribute to the avoidable disasters which have punctuated the second half of Wenger’s reign.
A scoreline of 1-1 wouldn’t be as much of a passion-killer against any other team. But this is Atleti, who haven’t conceded a single goal at home in 11 matches, stretching back 17 hours. Against Arsenal, who are the only team in English league football who haven’t managed to register a single point away from home in 2018.
Being brutally honest, it was always going to be unlikely that Wenger won his first European trophy at a time when his powers have never been so weak. But some familiar failings, a Wenger tribute act if you will, have probably ensured he won’t.
Marseille make hay
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Marseille's French midfielder Florian Thauvin (R) and team mates celebrate their victory at the end of the UEFA Europa League first-leg semi-final football match between Olympique de Marseille and FC Salzburg
Image credit: Getty Images
Wrapping up the Europa League business, Marseille look set for the final after a 2-0 home win over Red Bull Salzburg. A couple of Premier League rejects did the damage with Florian Thauvin, of Newcastle ‘fame’, and former Tottenham wastrel Clinton N’Jie both on target.
A Europa League final in Lyon against Marseille would be a nice homecoming moment for Wenger on May 16 but, well, they have a lot to do now.
Express apologises for Liverpool article
You might have thought that English newspapers would be sensitive to the possibility of smearing innocent Liverpool fans by falsely associating them with dangerous events around football matches, but apparently the Express haven’t been paying attention very closely.
The paper was forced into a grovelling apology and suspended writer Colin Mafham after the publication of an article which seemingly sought to hold Liverpool fans responsible for the shocking scenes which have resulted in two Roma supporters being charged with attempted murder while a man fights for his life in hospital. The risible piece suggested:
When you have a team capable of playing the joyous football Liverpool have for most of this season how on earth are their fans always seemingly involved in such horrific altercations on big European nights. Why does trouble seem to follow them like bees round a honey pot? You would have thought the deaths of 39 Italians at the European Cup final Liverpool lost to Juventus in 1985 - plus the five year ban on English clubs that consequently came after that - would have had a sobering effect. You would have thought the horrors at Hillsborough and 96 more deaths that followed only four years later would have made everyone more aware of their responsibilities to each other.
The Express responded to understandable outrage from Liverpool supporters and the mayor of the city by pulling the article and issuing a statement:
This article was ill-informed and wrong. It did not, in any way, reflect the views of the Express. It should never have been written and was very quickly removed. We unconditionally apologise, both for the article itself and any offence, understandably, caused. The journalist who wrote the piece was immediately suspended. Express.co.uk is conducting an inquiry into how the article came to be published on our website.
It seems the smears are not restricted to the English press, either....
All the while, Liverpool have had to convene a special security summit to ensure the safety of their fans ahead of the second leg against Roma next week, in a city where football supporters have repeatedly been targeted with violence.
IN OTHER NEWS
It seems like the Simeone family enjoyed Griezmann’s goal.
And even if papa Diego got sent off, he still managed to cut a stylish figure.
HEROES AND ZEROES
Hero: Nicklas Bendtner
So, just look what happened in the Norwegian Super Cup…
Zero: Donald Trump
Admittedly, President Trump could find himself in this category for all manner of reasons. The man is such an insentient dump of carbon it’s a miracle he hasn’t sold himself off to a fossil-fuel corporation yet. But he makes it in The Warm-Up this morning for threatening to use and abuse American influence at the United Nations to ensure his country land the 2026 World Cup over Morocco.
In fairness, this is probably a more promising strategy than England tried for 2018 when sending a simpering David Cameron and Prince William to try and convince Jack Warner without the use of any bribes whatsoever.
Trump’s tweet did at least encourage one unintentionally hilarious reply, which at last count was getting subjected to a ratio battering on Twitter.
HAT TIP
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Trent Alexander-Arnold has bounced back after a difficult start
Image credit: PA Sport
It was a big moment. For him to take charge was quite something. To have that confidence, not to overrule, but to say leave this to me. They trusted him.
With the help of Phil Thompson, the ever-excellent Adam Bate over at Sky Sports breaks down what makes Trent Alexander-Arnold such a top prospect for Liverpool, and why he could be an asset at the World Cup for England. The Warm-Up is very much on board with the calls to take him to Russia.
COMING UP
With two games left of the Championship season, Fulham trail Cardiff by a single point in the race for the second promotion spot, behind Wolves. It makes their home match against relegated Sunderland a must-win match and that’s live on Sky Sports from 7:45pm. Meanwhile, ITV4 have the first leg of the Youth Cup final between Chelsea and Arsenal at the same time.
Adam Hurrey will be staging his own Wenger tribute by struggling to do up his puffer jacket over the weekend. Find out how he got on in Monday's Warm-Up.
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