It took 91 minutes on Tuesday, but Gabriel Martinelli’s magical pass to Kai Havertz’s magical foot put the game on ice for Arsenal on Tuesday in Lisbon. Sporting Lisbon 0 – Arsenal 1.
This win gives the Gunners a 1-0 aggregate lead over Sporting Lisbon going into next Wednesday’s second leg of the Champions League Quarterfinals. The match will be played in Emirates Stadium.
Following two very tough domestic cup defeats, Mikel Arteta seems to have reinvigorated his squad. They played good football on Tuesday, and obviously were willing to fight until the very end. This is the sign of a champion, not a club that is about to succumb to pressure.
Up next is Bournemouth, a club Arsenal defeated 3-2 0n January 3rd. Obviously, this will be no easy match. The Cherries have not lost a match since last facing the Gunners. Their record in that time period is 4 wins and 8 draws. Bournemouth is currently 13th on the Premier League table, with a league-leading 15 draws. They are managed by Rayo Vallecano.
Here’s a little trivia: Bournemouth’s minority ownership is lead by Michael B. Jordan who recently won the Academy Award for best actor in a motion picture at the Academy Awards.
So, Arsenal has a minimum of eight matches to play, with a maximum possibility of eleven.
Here are two dates to put on your calendars – May 24th and May 30th.
Could these be the two dates Martin Odegaard lifts the Premier League trophy, then the Champions League trophy?
Sure, let’s not get the cart ahead of the horse, but it sure is fun to look ahead and dream of those possibilities.
COYG!
Cheers.
Gunner1953
