#arsatl — Public Fediverse posts

Bukayo Saka capitalized on Jan Oblak’s spill to score the only goal as Arsenal dominated possession and kept a ninth Champions League clean sheet in 14 games...

#Arsenal #ucl #ChampionsLeague #atleticomadrid #ARSATL #BukayoSaka #footballnewsandupdates #Football #footballnews

https://www.mondiaries.com/2026/05/ucl-bukayo-sakas-opportunism-gives.html

Tonight it’s orks vs. orks, tomorrow elves vs. elves. #ChampionsLeague #ARSATL #arsenal #FCBPSG

Stroll down memory lane … Jack Wilshere was in the Arsenal side the last time they played Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone’s side visit the Emirates in the Champions League tonight and memories come flooding back for 33-year-old Wilshere, now head coach of Luton Town, of that Europa League semi-final in the Spring of 2018.

Arsenal’s then manager, Arsene Wenger, warned his players what Atletico’s tactics would be. Spoiling. As Wilshere recalls, “You knew what they were going to do, they were going to come in, they were going to make it horrible to play against, they were going to be dirty, they were going to push boundaries. We spoke about that and we were prepared for that. And I felt we dealt with that really well and they got a red card early and then we should have killed them.”

The Croatian Sime Vrsaljko was dismissed for two yellows, the first for clattering Wilshere, some going after only 10 minutes, a decision that enraged Simeone who was sent to the stands. “But, of course, even with 10 men, a Simeone team was difficult to play against,” Wilshere adds. “They understood their roles.”

Players involved tonight, players like Jan Oblak, Koke and Antoine Griezmann, fought hard at the Emirates. Wilshere crossed for Alexandre Lacazette to head Arsenal ahead and they looked to dominate but Simeone’s team know how to frustrate. Eight minutes from time, Griezmann equalised to Wilshere’s annoyance. “They hit us on the counter-attack, got the away goal at the time.”

Arsenal travelled the following week to Madrid and the Metropolitano. “It was actually one of their first games in the new stadium. It was some stadium. and we went there and Koscielny went up to head the ball and ruptured the Achilles after about 12 minutes.” Callum Chambers took his place in central defence. Wilshere took the armband.

“I love Koscielny. I was feeling sorry for my mate, but I got the armband, it was amazing. We should have won.” Diego Costa, the emblem of streetwise football, scored and Arsenal’s pursuit of a first European trophy since the Cup-Winners’ Cup in 1994 continued.

Tonight, Wilshere expects a tweaked approach from this Simeone, slightly more expansive than their pragmatic, Machiavellian style of 2018. “Now when I watch Atletico Madrid it's a completely different team and it shows the ability of Simeone as a coach, they still have the same behaviour as when they're horrible. You need that and that will definitely play a part in the game, but they're a little bit more expansive, a little bit more attacking now. So, yes, impressed by them.” #ARSATL #AFC #ATLETI