Why Arsenal shouldn’t be canceled in Europe

There is a feeling that people have forgotten how good Arsenal are.

The 2018-19 FA Women’s Super League champions, dramatically beaten in this year’s Continental Cup final, will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals on Saturday.

But since the WSL ended, with the transfer window in full swing, the hype has generally been around Chelsea and Manchester City, with Arsenal almost sidelined.

Perhaps, with a goalkeeper, two defenders and a waiting midfielder, Joe Montemurro’s signings aren’t as sexy as City signing a World Cup winner Sam Mewis or Rose Lavelle, or Chelsea picking up one of the hottest young talents. exciting of the world. to Jessie Fleming.

But ignoring Arsenal – the only English side left in the Champions League this season – would be silly.

Maybe it was the way their season ended that made people wonder if this year they have it inside to compete with their rivals.

The previous season, the Gunners blew everyone away with the incredible football they played with Montemurro, one of the most innovative coaches the WSL has ever seen.

But this time, plagued with injuries for many months, they finished third in the league after he finished in points per game, with skipper Kim Little admitting their recent record in major games is too poor.

Now they face PSG with a team in top form – bar the touch and go status of newcomer Lydia Williams – and several new players.

The signings of Steph Catley and Noelle Maritz in particular are brilliant. Both full-backs, they will free wingers Lisa Evans and Katie McCabe from their duties of playing back four.

It means Montemurro instead has two more options for his top three and, in general, with the addition of midfielder Malin Gut and also goalkeeper Williams, a lot more depth in a team.

“They were all very deliberate signings,” explains the Gunners boss.

“For the fluidity and balance of the squad, and for giving us all the options we need for whatever system we go out and play, against whoever we play.

“I think we now have the team to the point where, whatever phase is happening during the match, I can make the relevant changes, both tactically and from a staff point of view. While we have probably been a bit limited in this in recent years “.

Montemurro has long criticized the fact that he chooses to work with smaller teams. With Arsenal playing in four competitions and often playing huge matches, key personnel missing and the inability to replace him have returned to bite him regularly.

“We now have broad, straight players, classic wings. We have wings that can play inside. We have wide players who can play more centrally. We have large players who can play in deeper roles, “he adds.

“We have pretty much the complete composition of every type of attacker you could want.”

The timing couldn’t be better. The men’s Champions League has already shown us just how open these one-leg ties can be, which will fit Arsenal’s expansive play right up to the tee.

Having a plethora of offensive talent around the competition’s top scorer, Vivianne Miedema, is a formula that will worry any team.

And being strengthened on the defensive as they prepare to take on the European elite is a huge boost.

This PSG team is full of stars. Marie-Antoinette Katoto has scored the highest score in the French league in the past two seasons; Christiane Endler is one of the best goalkeepers in the world; now 42 years old, Formiga is an absolute legend of the game; while Jordyn Huitema is one of the best young talents on the planet.

Just last week, this team – as they regularly do – faced off against reigning European champions Lyon, only losing on penalties in the French Cup final.

“Their third striker is a very, very exciting prospect for them in terms of their speed, their ability to find space over the top and their ability to transitions one-on-one,” Montemurro notes.

But Arsenal is Arsenal. Their inability to keep the Scudetto this year is more a nod to how strong the league is becoming, rather than their own failures.

Just because they haven’t taken as many titles with their signings this summer doesn’t mean they’re not improving and keeping up with their rivals’ moves.

To emerge victorious on Saturday, in this great match, against this opposition, with so many eyes to watch, would send a statement.

It would also silence those who have doubted Montemurro’s style in recent months, after the renunciation of the title of champion and the defeat in the cup final.

“I always have aces up my sleeve,” he laughs, but he’s right.