What can we learn?

[selby]

  Watching the Arsenal Atletico match last night was watching two of the best defensive sides since the great Italian sides that dominated Europe.
  Both have great forwards but both teams strength is at the back, great keepers and four fast big central defenders with pace, with White and Califiori wide of Saliba and Gabrial and are playing more long balls forward to the channels instead  of keep the ball as much as they used to.
  They changed one Hincapie for Califiori who is coming back from injury defensively while changing three attacking mid fielders with like for like after going one up after about an hour upping the energy levels in midfield where games are won and finished the game on top and are unbeaten in the competition a great achievement against the top sides in Europe and if they win the competition can wear that unbeatable title for ever more.
  Split their team up to sections they have made less defensive substitutions than any other club, but more attacking substitutions than any other semi final teams. they are unbeaten in 14 games in the competition this season the only team to do so.
  Tactically something to learn from I think and where to freshen up and play at full throttle and wher to keep solid with certain types of players not a traditional line up.
   

[graingrover]

The difference between last night’s style ofv play and tonight’s will be interesting ..Based on the first leg evidence out of the four teams I would back Bayern to be champions .

[drfcsteve]

The final will very much be attack vs defence and I hope for footballs sake attack wins.

I’d much rather see flair, goals, individual brilliance than long throws, crowd the keeper, and “gamesmanship”

[Blue Green Algae]

  Watching the Arsenal Atletico match last night was watching two of the best defensive sides since the great Italian sides that dominated Europe.
  Both have great forwards but both teams strength is at the back, great keepers and four fast big central defenders with pace, with White and Califiori wide of Saliba and Gabrial and are playing more long balls forward to the channels instead  of keep the ball as much as they used to.

Anyone who thinks Atletico are one of the best defensive sides in Europe hasn't watched them for a very long time.

[selby]

   Arsenal have beaten Bayern 3-1 in the earlier rounds this season, and play against teams as good as them most weeks.
   The only thing that stops top English sides dominating is burn out between Christmas and Easter, the successful ones playing Saturday Tuesday every week.
   Before Christmas the Champions League table was an embarrassment with English side dominating while struggling in the Premiership and teams flirting with relegation here such as Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace qualifying for later stages in the minor European competitions.
  Now they are just fulfilling fixtures mostly one a week and are recharged they look like winning their European competitions.
  Arsenal play well they win against any of them. 

[moses]

Will be a really interesting game for Arsenal v PSG.
In the first leg PSG looked very vulnerable to set pieces and I thought Arsenal would cause them real problems, second leg PSG let Bayern have the ball, defended well and then hit them on the break.
That Kvaratskhelia is such a quality player, I like Ben White as a defender, him against Kvaratskhelia will be fascinating.

[GazLaz]

Will be a really interesting game for Arsenal v PSG.
In the first leg PSG looked very vulnerable to set pieces and I thought Arsenal would cause them real problems, second leg PSG let Bayern have the ball, defended well and then hit them on the break.
That Kvaratskhelia is such a quality player, I like Ben White as a defender, him against Kvaratskhelia will be fascinating.

Timber is one of Arsenal's key players. Hopefully for them hes back to replace White for the final.

[selby]

  That's a good point Gaz' and unlike us shows Arsenal have world class players on the side line.
  Saka, Madueke, Rice Zubimendi/ Odegarde/ plus boy wonder Dowman what a right side that is all world class adding White and Timber.
   Yes it will be a walk in the park for PSG put their name on the trophy now.
   Arsenal play well and PSG play open Arsenal could well pull it off. A lot depends on the referee as PSG get a good run in most matches out of them, a Scot Swede or Norwegian Danish German would do well rather than a Mediterranean.

[tyke1962]

  That's a good point Gaz' and unlike us shows Arsenal have world class players on the side line.
  Saka, Madueke, Rice Zubimendi/ Odegarde/ plus boy wonder Dowman what a right side that is all world class adding White and Timber.
   Yes it will be a walk in the park for PSG put their name on the trophy now.
   Arsenal play well and PSG play open Arsenal could well pull it off. A lot depends on the referee as PSG get a good run in most matches out of them, a Scot Swede or Norwegian Danish German would do well rather than a Mediterranean.

I fancy Arsenal simply because they aren't PSG and unlikely to take them on at football .

Arsenal have the ability to play the final on their own terms in a way that Bayern never did over PSG in the semi final .

The Arsenal of today are more George Graham than Arsene Wenger , more expertly organised than easy on the eye flair .

1-0 to the Arsenal in my opinion .

[Alan Southstand]

I sincerely hope not. I remember back when we played Arsenal at Belle Vue and heard one guy say “If Arsenal were playing on my lawn, I’d shut the curtains”. That pretty much sums up how I feel about them!

[Pancho Regan]

  That's a good point Gaz' and unlike us shows Arsenal have world class players on the side line.
 

I’ve read this three times Selby and I’m still trying to work out who “us” are?

[Monkcaster_Rover]

This’ll be the first game of this years champions league I’ve watched and I’ll have the pleasure of watching it in Albufeira 12 Super Bocks deep on a stag do.


I just hope it isn’t dull as ditch water.

[selby]

  Not surprised Pancho about the three times. just the thinking part, really?

[selby]

  Alan, your a one off, History says that thousands will turn up to watch winning sides no matter how they play.
  Lose two on the trot here and a visible difference on spectators actually at the game can be seen, covered by the fact most of our crowd are now season ticket holders and their number is automatically counted as attending the game.
  Win games however you play and they will come with a bigger floating support.
 

[BobG]

No. It's lack of pronoun precision.
 Just the three times. just the thinking part, really?

No. It's lack of pronoun precision

BobG