Yes I think so, we've always played Bayern Munich, Barcelona and teams like that. No disrespect to Monaco but we thought we had a real good opportunity to qualify but we've given ourselves a tough task from the first game. We've come here and we nearly done it but that seems to be the case every year
MOM. For sure. He dropped back when required, drove the team forward and never gave up. All elements he's been criticised for prior to tonight. Playing in an environment not to his preference, 10 players behind the ball, he really adjusted well and was the leading light where perhaps Alexis and Santi showed signs of fatigue. A very important player with hopefully the best still yet to come #OurMesut.
So only a few changes to the team that defeated West Ham 3-0 at the weekend. Needless to say, the same scoreline would do rather nicely this evening but the job will be a lot more difficult against a team that does not concede many goals at the best of times, let alone when they are 3-1 up from the first leg.
Even though Gabriel has only just returned to training, I do wonder if Arsène will take a gamble on him. Mertesacker has done excellently in recent matches, especially at Old Trafford but this is a very different game, a game that does not particularly suit him. As I mentioned above, we need to take the game to Monaco from the off, we need to compress them in their own half. Having Mertesacker half way in our own half does not help him or the team. For this same reason I wouldn't be surprised to see Gibbs come in for Monreal, although I think that is less likely as the form of the Spaniard has been top class for a number of months now
This year Monaco is the better defensive team in Champion's League AND in our championship (Ligue 1) with twenty goals against. I can explain that, because in the start of the season 14-15, Leonardo Jardim try to play mostly in the attack. But we grant many goals (4 against Bordeaux, 3 against Lorient...) so he changes completely strategy and he put the defensive line below. Gradually, recruits and "old" of the team began to work together and it makes the strong of the team. The middle of the team is very important too, with Toulalan, Kondogbia or Bakayoko and also Fabinho, who makes formidable work of recovery
It is difficult to forget the last cup encounter we had against Reading in the league cup in 2012. We were 4-0 down before Theo Walcott pulled one back just on half time. We finished the game winning 7-5 in one of the most ridiculous yet highly entertaining games of football you'll ever see. Not sure that I am emotionally ready for that again, that said I'd take it now if it meant another day at Wembley was guaranteed.
His finishing was not what we expect of him but that is not the issue. He has not been playing regularly and is not in the same groove as the other players. The way I see it, the issue that Walcott has, is that he does not contribute in other ways. Whether that be keeping possession, winning tackles or defending set pieces, Theo becomes less important to the team. Having said all that, I hope we can come to some agreement and extend his contract. A sharp and confident Theo will take those chances and he will score and make important goals if given a chance in the team
Notable mentions for Özil and Giroud, but it would have to be Rambo. He helped to provide the crucial link between defence and attack and seemed to be popping up all over the pitch. Santi has had a few stormers in CM this season, but the position alongside our most defensive midfielder (whether that is Coquelin or someone else moving forward) is surely his for the foreseeable future. In the big games especially we need his combination of physicality and stamina, with the ability to make late surges into the opposition's box
Theo Walcott has finally nudged his way back into Arsene's starting 11 for the 3pm kick off vs West Ham. Arsene has rotated his team a little bringing in Calum Chambers for Hector Bellerin, Aaron Ramsey slots in alongside Coquelin so Santi Cazorla rests to the bench. That change may have allowed Arsene to give wide men Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott a rare chance together on the flanks. Ramsey perhaps gives us that defensive insurance as our two wide forwards have a habit of