Tuesday night sees us take on Monaco in the second leg of our Champions League tie and a massive challenge in order to progress into the next round of the competition.
Arsenal were turned over 3-1 at the Emirates by the Ligue 1 club 18 days ago, leaving the Gunners on the brink of exiting the Champions League once again. The only chance they have of going through now is if they can score three goals and keep Monaco at bay for 90 minutes. They can also take the tie into extra time, but this is only if the score reflects the first tie one (3-1). No team has recovered from more than a single-goal deficit going into an away leg in the Champions League era, and many Arsenal fans have already written off their chances of progression. However, some still remain optimistic that the impossible can still be achieved, and Mesut Ozil believes they have what it takes to produce the miracle result in Monte Carlo.
Monaco have not conceded a goal at home in their last eight games at the Stade Louis, with their last coming against Caen on November 22nd last year. But despite the odds being stacked against them, Ozil feels Arsenal are worth a gamble:
‘When you believe in yourselves, a positive energy grows that you can achieve your aims. In football, things that may look unlikely can happen. I know that if we believe in ourselves and utilise our potential, we can still go through.’
‘We need to score three goals and Monaco are a team that play defensively, but we have to take initiative and score the first goal as quickly as possible to boost our confidence.
‘It is going to be difficult to score three times because they have defended well in the tournament so far, but if you look at our past matches and the way we played against Manchester United (in the FA Cup quarter-final) last week, I think there’s a chance we can still progress.
‘When you look at the Manchester United game, we controlled it and deserved to win the game, that just shows that if we convert what the manager encourages us to do into the games, we can achieve a lot.’
The German ace added:
‘We know the quality we have in our team – there are world-class players here.
‘Look at our options in attack, where a variety of players can and do score goals. That’s a positive for us and we will make sure to give everything in Monaco to advance to the next round.’
Anything is possible in football that’s why it’s loved by millions around the world, so why can’t the boys go to Monte Carlo on Tuesday night and do the unthinkable?
Last season we went to Bayern Munich – who were unbeatable at home – and produced a 2-0 win. Yes, we went out on the away goal rule, but the point is if they want it enough they can do it, and it’s the same this time around against Monaco
It will of course be difficult but we have nothing to lose and the quality to do it.
Its certainly going to be a difficult game, but who knows, in football the unthinkable can happen. Let’s wish them the best of luck.
I’m keeping everything crossed.im sure we will score 3,watch Walcott shine