Team News:
Atletico Madrid [4-4-2] : Oblak – Thomas Gimenez Godin Gomez – Vitolo Fernandez Saul Koke – Griezmann Costa
SUBS: Correa(74) Torres(83) Savic(93)
Arsenal [4-3-2-1]: Ospina – Bellerin Mustafi Koscielny Monreal – Ramsey Xhaka Wilshere – Ozil Welbeck – Lacazette
SUBS: Chambers(12) Mkhitaryan(68)
Big guy/Little guy
An obvious tactic deployed my Simeone. He stuck Costa up top and floated long balls. Arsenal defenders are not good at defending aerial battles. This led Costa to have a field day. Griezmann was getting on every second ball. This resulted in Arsenal being exposed to the counter-attack every time. The partnership between Griezmann and Costa was really effective. Arsenal could not handle the strength and power of Costa. The defenders backed off him all night. Costa is definitely something all Arsenal fans feared going into the game. Their fears were proved right as he bullied our shaky defence. It was not looking good from the off but after arguably our best defender went off, the only way was down. Costa and Griezmann proved just how effective a conventional 4-4-2 can be. With two wingers that can cross a ball and a Big guy – Little guy partnership
The Press
Another obvious tactic was the press. Arsenal were pressed at every point on the pitch. As soon as an Arsenal player got the ball they were under pressure. This led to unnecessary mistakes which our full backs struggled with. Also, it meant the pressure got relieved on Atletico whenever we were attacking. None of the Arsenal lads had the right composure to deal with it. It either took too long or they made a mistake. Simeone had identified Arsenal are only a threat if you let them play. If you play at the tempo you want, Arsenal do suffer.
Arsenal’s back line also suffered some shaky moments at the hands of the press. Griezmann continuously pushed on Chambers and Ospina forcing the pair into some very uncomfortable moments.
Ratings
Ospina 8
Bellerin 5
Koscielny N/A
Mustafi 6
Monreal 4
Ramsey 7
Xhaka 7.5
Wilshere 6
Ozil 6
Welbeck 5
Laacazette 6.5
SUBS: Chambers 6, Mkhitaryan 6.7
