Real Madrid 1-2 Arsenal Player Rating and Match Reaction

[KSE Comedy Club]

Didn’t realise we are at home for the first leg. Thought we were away.

Don’t think it changes much though. After last night I like the idea of PSG being under pressure to come at us, I trust us defensively. All about getting a lead in the first leg though.

Think I would have preffered being away first, what with Partey not available now.

Oh well, we will have to do more of the same again

[HCZ_Reborn]

Think I would have preffered being away first, what with Partey not available now.

Oh well, we will have to do more of the same again

He’s only suspended for the first leg, so is available for the game in the Parc de Princes

And out of those two games I’d rather have him available for the away leg

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I'm not sure I like this format where you not playing the deciding leg at home seems not to be based on merit (or rankings).

Anyway, as far as we are concerned, I think it favours us not to play a deciding leg in front of our fans, especially with the way our entire season has panned out with notable subpar performances churned out in front of them ( Citeh and RM being clear exceptions).

Also having Partey available for the deciding leg is a plus IMO.

[Marc Overmars]

Old man Jorginho will have to roll back the years. At least for his sake he will be up against slight midfielders who’ll play football rather than just use pace and athleticism.

[Mac76]

Special mention to Kiwior too, he was a collosus last night, flawless.

Indeed he was, it just shows that in his natural position and with some minutes he is a good player, I'd like to see if we can keep him so we can rotate with Gabriel a bit more

[Mac76]

Old man Jorginho will have to roll back the years. At least for his sake he will be up against slight midfielders who’ll play football rather than just use pace and athleticism.

I'll take any kind of Jorg, given he's injured, hopefully he'll be over it by then

I'd prefer we were away for the first leg, partly just because it would be nice to celebrate in the stadium if we get through

[HCZ_Reborn]

Indeed he was, it just shows that in his natural position and with some minutes he is a good player, I'd like to see if we can keep him so we can rotate with Gabriel a bit more

Yes I would rather keep him as well

[Marc Overmars]

Yeah top marks for Kiwior, always seemed fragile with confidence but this tie was the making of him.

Also Timber and MLS have made the full back slots their own. It’s crazy how these areas of the pitch seem to change and evolve every season for us.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yeah top marks for Kiwior, always seemed fragile with confidence but this tie was the making of him.

Also Timber and MLS have made the full back slots their own. It’s crazy how these areas of the pitch seem to change and evolve every season for us.

Due to his consistency, I consider Timber a contender for player of the season

Rice was of course fantastic in both legs against Real Madrid, but to be honest I don’t think he’s had a great season overall. I still think he struggles in the no8 position when we play teams that will sit deep….and in many ways a central midfielder is only as good as the time and space they are afforded on the ball.


I think there are still things he does that we could well do without (time wasting etc) but he is quicker than Ben White and he seems to link up just as well with Saka

[IBK]

So pleased with last night's performance and result! No issue with HCZ's ratings - but as after the first leg I want to praise the quality of the whole team and the manager.

We were playing the occasion as much as the RM players - and the mental fortitude that Arteta has forged in our team, to rise to the big occasions, is very impressive.

There will be the inevitable mealy mouthed comments from some (I've already seen some) about how RM are not the force they were, and how PSG is the team to watch in this competition, but I guess this is inevitable until we actually win something. In the meantime, I think it is churlish not to acknowledge the sheer quality of coaching and execution that in hindsight made this almost a non-competition between a bunch of talented individuals and an extremely well-oiled team that you can see has complete trust and dedication to what they have been coached to do. This is why we can be quietly confident going forwards.

It is so good to shove much of the pre-match 'analysis' down some commentators' throats. Alyson Rudd in the Times went so far as to write an article entitled 'Winning 3-0 has made it harder for Arsenal — Real will be liberated' Then we had all the remontada nonsense from the Madrid camp. I don't know any Gooners who weren't nervous about last night's game given Madrid's pedigree - but it's almost as though many pundits were out to bring us down, and licking their lips for an Arsenal capitulation. It was a joy to see that our players were unaffected by all the noise and clearly confident and clear sighted.

Finally a word about the referee. We were worried that the Madrid crowd, and ther team's antics, might make him a 'homer' quite the opposite, and I admire his refusal to be affected. It was almost an epiphany for me to watch us play a game officiated without bias and competently.