Arsenal vs PSG Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori vies with Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola during their UEFA Champions League match in London back in October. The two teams will meet again in the semi-finals of the tournament next month. Photo: Adrian Dennis/AFP
Image: Adrian Dennis/AFP
You have to feel for Arsenal fans.
On Wednesday, they achieved their best result since their incredible invincibles season 21 years ago. They beat reigning European champions Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu to book their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Right now, whatever the weather, these streets are their own.
It was quite remarkable. Over two legs, they took apart the mighty Los Blancos, and made them look like a second-rate outfit. The result will no doubt have energised Gooners around the world, who will be hoping to see Martin Odegaard lifting Ol’ Big Ears in Munich at the end of next month.
Sorry, Gooners, it’s not going to happen. Your next opponents in the competition — Paris Saint-Germain — have been some of the best performers in Europe this season. Unbeaten in the league and on their way to completing a domestic double, and have blown most teams away in the Champions League.
If you cast your minds back to October 1 of this season, you’ll remember that Arsenal played PSG at the Emirates in London.
In that game, you were second best for the entire game. Sure, you somehow managed to walk away with all three points after a 2-0 win, but you have to admit that Arsenal looked like Stoke City for much of that game.
Sure, Mikel Arteta’s men can manage to pull off another shock in one of the two legs, but ultimately, they will not be good enough to book a ticket to Munich.
With Ousmane Dembele playing some of the best football of his career, and “Georgian Messi” Khvicha Kvaratskhelia bamboozling defenders whenever he has the ball at his feet, it’s going to be another painful Champions League campaign.
But, you must trust the process.
Instead, Arsenal should focus on more pressing matters — holding on to second place in the Premier League because Nottingham Forest and the mighty Newcastle United are hot on their heels. Finishing second for the third season in a row will be a massive achievement for the club, so, enjoy that. Don’t let the inevitable failure of winning a Champions League title stop you from enjoying your football.
And hey, look on the bright side — there’s always next year. Arsenal fans have perfected the art of hopeful delusion like no other; it’s practically a club tradition at this point. So, dust off your “This Is Our Year” scarves, brew a cup of herbal optimism, and get ready to tweet passionately about xG stats and “net spend” while PSG casually juggle the ball into your net. Because deep down, you know the real trophy was the vibes you made along the way.
IOL Sport
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