Madrid (AFP) – Arsene Wenger’s glorious farewell will be on the line on Thursday as Arsenal visit Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final second leg.
Atletico held on for a 1-1 draw in the opening game in London last week and Diego Simeone’s side are heavy favourites to make the final in Lyon later this month.
Here, AFP Sport looks at five talking points ahead of the clash in Madrid:
– Wenger braced for last Arsenal game in Europe –
If Wenger had been able to handpick the setting for potentially his last European match in charge of Arsenal, Atletico’s Wanda Metropolitano would likely have been low down the list. To avoid defeat, his team will have to deliver the sort of break-out display they have managed in the FA Cup in recent years, against Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea. Wenger got closest to a European trophy in 2006 when his side were beaten in the Champions League final by Barcelona and in 2000, when they lost in the UEFA Cup final to Galatasaray. A glorious farewell is still within reach.
– Atletico impenetrable at home –
Atletico are unbeaten at home in La Liga this term and have not conceded a single goal on their own patch since January. The success of Simeone’s side has been based on work rate and discipline but Arsenal can draw encouragement from last week’s opening leg, when they created several excellent chances. The key in Madrid is likely to be patient. Over-exert, and Arsenal may leave themselves open to Atletico’s all-too familiar combination of absorb and counter. But it will take a certain level of attacking intent to break down arguably Europe’s most resilient defence. Arsenal must find the perfect balance.
The post Five talking points ahead of Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid appeared first on World Soccer Talk.
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