Olivier Giroud: Reacts to a missed chance at the Stade Louis II
Arsenal came agonisingly close to reaching the Champions League quarter-final in dramatic fashion but exited the competition on away goals after a 2-0 win at Monaco.
After losing the first leg 3-1, Arsenal pulled one back before half-time, Olivier Giroud slamming into the roof of the net after his initial effort had been saved by Danijel Subasic.
Substitute Aaron Ramsey took Arsenal to within one goal of an historic comeback, slotting home from inside the area after Theo Walcott had hit the post.
Arsenal came within inches of a third in the final stages as Giroud’s effort was clawed off the line by Subasic, but Arsene Wenger’s side failed to break Monaco down again.
Olivier Giroud received the ball back from an effort and slammed the ball into the roof of the net
The result means the Gunners have been knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage for the fifth season in a row.
Arsenal needed at least three goals to progress to the last eight, and started the brightest in front of a rare full house at Stade Louis II.
Giroud had a nightmare first leg at the Emirates having missed a hat-trick of chances, and went close again after 16 minutes with a header from Hector Bellerin’s cross.
Monaco's Layvin Kurzawa evades Alexis Sanchez
But the Frenchman, who caused problems for Monaco all night, gave Arsenal the lead on the night nine minutes before half-time.
Receiving the ball from Danny Welbeck on the left of the penalty area, Giroud failed to lift the ball over Subasic, but the rebound fell back to the striker and he slammed the ball into the roof of the net.
Arsenal nearly went into the break two up when Welbeck’s drilled effort from the edge of the box headed goalwards, only for the ball to strike Aymen Abdennour and trickle wide as the defender lay on the floor.
Charlie Nicholas: Arsenal paid the price for a terrible first-leg performance
Ozil went close after half-time with a precise free-kick, forcing Subasic into an acrobatic save, before Arsenal got to within a goal of their target through substitute Ramsey.
With 11 minutes remaining, Nacho Monreal found Walcott, who hit the post from 12 yards, but the ball fell to Welshman Ramsey to slot home with a fine finish across Subasic into the bottom left corner.
Arsenal’s best chance to grab the third came seven minutes from time, Giroud seeing his effort at the back post clawed away superbly by Subasic.
Manuel Pellegrini: Hoping a strong showing against Barca will spark Manchester City
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes his team can use their do-or-die Champions League clash with Barcelona to reignite their Premier League charge.
Pellegrini is under considerable scrutiny with his side faltering in their title defence and seemingly needing to overturn a deficit in Barcelona to reignite their season.
City go to the Nou Camp on Wednesday for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie trailing 2-1 after defeat to the Catalan giants at the Etihad Stadium three weeks ago.
To progress, however, requires City to reverse last year's form - they were beaten by Barca at the same stage last season, losing both legs in a 4-1 aggregate defeat.
Jamie Carragher feels Manchester City need a result against Barcelona in the Champions League to save Manuel Pellegrini from getting the sack.
City had a player sent off in both those matches, as they did when the sides met last month.
"We are not going to play against an easy team but I'm sure that if the three ties we played before were 11 v 11 it could have been different,” Pellegrini said.
"We are going to have bad moments during the game but we have a team that can do its best in this type of game."
With three losses in his last four games, Pellegrini was inevitably asked about his future as he met media on the eve of the match but he brushed off the questions and tried to rouse his players.
"First of all I respect all opinions but I don't think my seat is in danger. But even if it was I wouldn't do anything differently, I would do the same thing and focus and concentrate on the game," Pellegrini said.
"I want to say there's no such strange atmosphere at Manchester City. We're second in the Premier League, still playing strong and are going to fight to prove it tomorrow.
It is a good opportunity for our team and the only way to prove it is to beat one of the biggest teams in Europe and we have that chance tomorrow
Manchester City Manuel Pellegrini on Barcelona clash
"It is a good opportunity for our team and the only way to prove it is to beat one of the biggest teams in Europe and we have that chance tomorrow."
Yaya Toure was also asked about Pellegrini's future but chose to focus on the collective responsibility of everyone involved in the team.
Toure, who left Barca for City in a £24m deal almost five years ago, missed the first leg through suspension.
But the 31-year-old is back and behind his embattled manager, and is also showing support for captain Vincent Kompany, who has attracted some criticism after the recent run of poor results.
"Every players has some doubt, some problems, it's part of football,” Toure said of Kompany.
“Sometimes you can have ups and down but he will have full focus because this game is very important for us. I hope tomorrow we will deliver."
Arsenal travel to Monaco knowing it will take a momentous effort for them to stand a chance of making it through to the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Gunners were on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline at the Emirates in the first leg and subsequently need to score at least three at the Stade Louis II Stadium if they are to progress.
Leonardo Jardim’s side came into the tie as underdogs but have been in fine form of late, winning four of their last five games and holding Paris Saint-Germain in the other.
As such, they will be confident of maintaining their advantage and moving into the last eight for the first time since 2004 when they reached the final.
Arsene Wenger is confident Arsenal can make history and over turn a two-goal deficit to progress to the quarter finals
For Arsene Wenger it is a first chance to return to his former club as an opposition manager although he will be well aware that the chances of it being a successful one are slim in the extreme.
Team news
Jeremy Toulalan, Yannick Ferreira Carrasco and Geoffrey Kondogbia are in the Monaco squad after recovering from injuries.
The trio have trained as normal after missing the 3-0 win over Bastia on Friday evening.
UEFA Champions League Highlights
Atletico Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen and AS Monaco v Arsenal
March 17, 2015
Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista has recovered from a hamstring problem to travel to Monaco while club captain Mikel Arteta has also returned to training after his ankle injury.
Midfielder Tomas Rosicky is not part of the squad after illness and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring) remains out, along with Jack Wilshere (ankle).
Opta facts
Monaco have won 75% of their Champions League games at their Stade Louis-II (18 out of 24). Only Real Madrid have a better ratio on home soil in the history of the competition (76%, 77 out of 101) among teams with more than two appearances in the UCL.
Arsenal have always eliminated French clubs in knockout encounters in European competition – it’s happened five times in the past.
Monaco have conceded two goals in seven games in the Champions League this season, the best defensive record in this season's competition.
Per Mertesacker and his Arsenal team-mates face a huge challenge to progress in the Champions League
Arsenal are the only team, alongside Real Madrid, to have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League in every season since the new format in 2003/04. They have however been knocked out in the last 16 in each of the last four seasons.
Monaco haven’t conceded a single goal in their three Champions League home games this season.
Arsene Wenger has won none of his seven games against Monaco as manager (D4 L3).
Manchester City need an against-the-odds triumph in Barcelona on Wednesday night after losing the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium three weeks ago.
The English champions will need to beat Barca and score at least two goals in the process if they are to progress to the quarter-finals – something no team has managed against the Spanish giants at the Nou Camp in over 12 months.
So how do you beat Barcelona? With the help of the Opta data and our team of experts at home and abroad, we highlight some of the key qualities needed if City are to pull off a major shock in Catalonia on Wednesday…
Pick the right team
“The way they set themselves up has not done them any favours,” said former Manchester City striker Niall Quinn of his old team earlier this month. “They're getting found out by playing with two strikers against the best teams in Europe. It's alright playing two strikers when you’re dominating the ball and you're on the front foot all the time. But if that's not happening, then you need to be a different team. Neither Sergio Aguero nor Edin Dzeko want to drop off and make another man in midfield.”
Toure, Kompany and Fernandinho will be key men for City on Wednesday
It’s a view that’s also been recently echoed by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville in his Telegraph column. “City are unbalanced when they play 4-4-2 with Yaya Toure, David Silva, Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero in the starting line-up,” claims Neville. “They leave themselves exposed too often. The option, which I believe Pellegrini has no option but to consider to have any chance against Barcelona in the second leg, is a change of system.”
However, Neville also acknowledges that there is more to the problem than switching between 4-4-2, 4-5-1 and 3-5-2. “It is not the system that is to blame, but the characteristics of the players within it. I’ve played in great teams that made 4-4-2 work, but fundamental to its success is not only showing the desire to make things happen with the ball, but to be equally combative without it.” So what are the traits of a team that can beat Barcelona…
Barcelona home defeats since 2009/10
Barca 1-2 Rubin, October '09 Barca 1-2 Sevilla, May '10 Barca 0-2 Hercules, September '10 Barca 1-2 Real Madrid, April '12 Barca 1-3 Real Madrid, February '13 Barca 0-3 Bayern Munich, May '13 Barca 2-3 Valencia, February '14 Barca 0-1 Celta Vigo, November '14 Barca 0-1 Malaga, February '15
Don’t let the possession faze you
Barcelona have enjoyed the majority of possession in every La Liga and Champions League game they have played this season. In fact, they’ve averaged 70 per cent of possession domestically and 65 per cent in Europe. As a result, even the continent's finest must accept they won’t be seeing too much of the ball on their trip to the Nou Camp. But that doesn’t mean the task is hopeless.
In February, mid-table Malaga won 1-0 at Barcelona despite enjoying just 27 per cent of possession. The more telling statistic was that both teams had 11 shots on goal with Malaga managing three shots on target compared to Barcelona’s four. Malaga boss Javi Garcia said afterwards: “[You have to] control the game through good defensive work, not through possession, because you cannot do that against Barcelona.
“The player who wins the ball back must play it forward immediately, to bypass their initial press. The forwards must be waiting for that moment, to offer themselves in the spaces we know will be there if their full-backs are pushed forward. If you do not break and hold the ball against Barcelona, you never get out. They have possession, possession, possession, and in the end you are exhausted – and then you are in trouble.”
Be up for the battle
Jamie Carragher says Manchester City need a result against Barcelona in the Champions League to save Manuel Pellegrini from the sack.
During Barcelona’s defeat to PSG in September, they recorded their lowest duel success rate (43 per cent) and fewest successful passes in their own half (195) in their Champions League run this season. Barcelona only won 49 duels during the entire game – their lowest in this season’s campaign. It wasn’t a coincidence but rather a product of PSG’s pressing, as Guillem Balague told Sky Sports.
“If City want to approach the game like PSG did then that is the way to unsettle Barcelona,” said Balague. “There was pressure high and when they couldn’t recover the ball early, PSG tracked back as a team. Everybody defended very compact with two lines of four and then they had very fast players up front to counter-attack and use the space that Barca leave behind their defence. That is the way. They have to get at the Barca players and have a clear idea of what they want to do.”
That’s precisely what Sevilla had when they went to the Nou Camp and won 2-1 in 2010. “The key idea we had was to pile the pressure on their defenders and not allow them to bring the ball out of the back,” said manager Manolo Jimenez. “We wanted to make sure that they didn't get the ball to their playmakers – we tried to stop them receiving and playing. We played with great intensity and really went for them. You have to work very hard and not give up a single ball for lost.”
Are Manchester City’s players capable of playing with the necessary intensity? It’s been lacking of late but Neville has a warning for them if they fail to up their game against Barcelona. “They’ve got to put in a huge performance,” he said on Monday Night Football. “The very least we’ve got to see on Wednesday is them sprinting around the pitch. If they walk on Wednesday they’ll get absolutely dissected.”
Hit them on the counter-attack
Were Atletico fortunate to get this penalty at the Camp Nou?
Barcelona’s attacking approach can make them vulnerable, something Rubin Kazan exploited in beating Pep Guardiola’s team in the Nou Camp back in 2009. “Barcelona like to use the whole pitch,” said Rubin boss Kurban Berdyev afterwards. “Their full-backs tend to play wide and leave some space in the centre. We were ready to organise our counter-attack through that area, so we waited for the right opportunity.”
Six years on and, as former Barca defender Albert Ferrer pointed out onRevista de La Liga, the same principles apply. “This is where Barcelona can concede goals,” said Ferrer. “Everybody is attacking. The opposition win the ball back and the full-backs are up the field. The key for Barcelona is for the two centre-backs to be very concentrated with the help of the holding midfielder. And pray.
“Sometimes the weakest point about Barcelona is that they are not going to change their philosophy. They are just going to keep attacking and attacking. Whoever they play against – even if it’s Real Madrid or Manchester City – this is how they’re going to play. The full-backs will go flying forwards and midfielders will get into the box. That’s a big problem for the opposition but not changing that means they are going to suffer in defence.”
Target Barca early on
Barcelona have been exposed at the start of both halves
Even so, Barcelona are the hardest team to score against in La Liga, having only conceded 16 goals so far this season. However, they have conceded six goals in the Champions League – more than the likes of Monaco, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Porto – so they can be punished when up against Europe’s elite.
The statistics reveal that Barca are most likely to concede just after half-time, having conceded 63 per cent of La Liga goals in the second half. They are particularly susceptible between the 46th and 60th minute. In the Champions League, they are most likely to concede within the first 15 minutes.
Perhaps this indicates that the Catalan giants can take a while to switch on and offers hope that Manchester City will get chances if they put the home team under pressure from the outset. However, it would also suggest that teams soon tire against Barcelona’s relentless passing machine so the window of opportunity can be brief.
Barcelona vs Man City
Score from set-pieces
There has long been a perception that Barcelona’s lack of height and physicality can be exposed in set-piece situations. Indeed, Thiago Silva’s late headed equaliser for AC Milan in a 2-2 draw in the Nou Camp in 2011 was even famously predicted in the commentary box by Carlo Ancelotti. The concern for Manchester City will be that their recent pedigree in this department needs to improve significantly if they are to punish their hosts.
Over 30 per cent of City’s Premier League goals came from set-pieces last season compared to just 17 per cent in the current campaign and corners have been a significant part of that downturn. Goals from corners are down from 10 to only two with City scoring from around one in 100 rather than one in 22 last season. It’s not merely a case of poor finishing either – the champions rank bottom of the Premier League in terms of their percentage of attempts from set-pieces.
That’s partly due to a change of personnel (Alvaro Negredo’s exit, for example) but it’s something they might look to address against Barcelona. Luis Enrique’s team have not conceded a single goal from outside the box in this season’s Champions League so penetrating the area is going to be crucial. Corners offer that opportunity but can City seize it?
Theory is one thing and execution is another. While victorious managers can wax lyrical about their successful tactics and pundits can put a perfect system in place on paper, it is clear that a healthy dollop of luck is also needed if a team is to pull off an unlikely victory against Barcelona. At least three of Barcelona's four defeats in La Liga this season certainly owed a little to fortune.
Malaga seized upon a misjudged Dani Alves back-pass at the Nou Camp last month, while it was a Jordi Alba own goal within two minutes of the start that did for Barcelona away to Real Sociedad in January. Barca even hit the woodwork three times in losing to Celta Vigo in November. “Of course you need a bit of luck,” admitted Malaga boss Garcia. The question now is whether or not Manchester City will get it on Wednesday.
Atletico Madrid must overturn a one-goal deficit to see off Bayer Leverkusen and reach the Champions League quarter-finals at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday.
Diego Simeone’s side have struggled to repeat last season’s heroics so far this campaign and find themselves fourth in La Liga, nine points off leaders Barcelona having failed to win in their last four games.
While their defence has remained solid – they have conceded just two in that run - there are concerns over their lack of potency up front with Koke’s strike in a 1-1 draw with Valencia being Atletico’s only goal since a 3-0 win over Almeria in February.
They will be hoping that 20-goal striker Mario Mandzukic can rediscover his goalscoring touch to help fire them into the last eight.
vs
A Madrid v Leverkusen
March 17, 2015
Leverkusen, meanwhile, have been in fine form, winning their last five games without conceding including their 4-0 thumping of Stuttgart on Friday.
That result keeps them fourth in the Bundesliga, two points off third but a whopping 22 points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
Team news
Atletico will be without Tiago Mendes, after his sending off in the first leg, and Diego Godin through suspension while defender Siqueira and midfielder Saul are both out injured.
Mario Mandzukic will be available, though, having been banned for the La Liga stalemate with Espanyol on Sunday.
Leverkusen have Lars Bender available for the trip to Madrid after he missed the win over Stuttgart with an ankle injury sustained in the opening leg against Atletico.
Opta facts
Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten against Atletico Madrid in European competition (W1 D2).Their three encounters have only produced five goals.
Atletico Madrid have failed to score in their last 205 minutes in the Champions League, the longest current drought among the 16 remaining teams in the competition.
Simeone has won eight of his nine Champions League home games as Atletico Madrid manager. The only exception being a goalless draw against Chelsea in last season’s semi-final. In those nine games, his side have scored 24 goals and conceded only two.
Bayer Leverkusen have lost five of their six away games in the Champions League knockout stages (D1). They’ve conceded 18 goals and scored only five in those six outings.
Koke has delivered the most assists in the Champions League this season (four).
Bayer Leverkusen have conceded the most fouls in the Champions League this season (132) whilst Atletico have suffered the most (122).
Arsene Wenger: Says confidence is key for Arsenal to progress
Arsenal need to believe they can beat Monaco if they are to move through to the next round of the Champions League, according to manager Arsene Wenger.
To progress Arsenal will have to rewrite the history books by becoming the first team to qualify by scoring more than one goal in the away leg, following the disappointing 3-1 loss in the first leg.
Wenger accepted that his side had to improve their finishing after conceding a crushing three goals at Emirates Stadium but the task won’t be easy given Monaco’s defensive form at home: they have not conceded there in the group stages and, including league matches, have a winning run of 16 consevutive games
Arsenal, though, have never lost in France, and Wenger sees no reason why his side cannot take their strong domestic form to the international stage.
Arsenal defender Calum Chambers was happy with their 2-0 win against West Ham and says he is enjoying himself since arriving at the club, despite not being
"Monaco is in a very strong position, but we have experience, the desire and belief we can do it," said Wenger.
"We want to give everything to have the greatest performance on the pitch. If we did not believe we could do it, we would not be here.
"The statistics are against us. The result in the first leg is against us. We are conscious about that.
"But no matter how big the percentage (chance) is, we have to give absolutely everything to make the stats lie, that is our desire and belief that we can do it."
Wenger confirmed centre-back Gabriel Paulista had travelled to Monaco after recovering from a hamstring injury but it is the form of striker Olivier Giroud, who has scored three times in his last four appearances, that could be the crucial factor.
Matt Le Tissier gives his opinion on Arsenal's 3-0 win over West Ham.
"Giroud actually owes the revenge to him. He owes a great performance for himself," Wenger said.
"He missed a few opportunities in the first leg, but what striker doesn't miss an opportunity?
"He has the ability and the right mental level."
The match has significant meaning for Wenger too: he was manager at Monaco for seven years, guiding them to the French league title in 1988 and also the French Cup, before moving to Japan and then Highbury in 1996.
"For me, it is very special moment. I was a young coach here at Monaco, and stayed here for seven years," he said.
"However, the experience I have gained can help me to make the right decision tomorrow, so I am able to separate the emotion of coming back and the importance of the game.
"I am here for work and my job is for my club to win."
Defender Per Mertesacker insists the squad have the confidence needed to pull off a shock result.
"We know that in the first leg we were not really up for it mentally. From the start you could feel that and at times we could feel that there was a bit of a pressure and we couldn't cope with that," Mertesacker said.
"But we have moved on and improved a lot, so that is why we are very confident, even away FROM HOME, we can beat any team in the world."
Manuel Pellegrini: Not ready to leave Etihad Stadium just yet
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says he will not face the same fate as Roberto Mancini and says he will not be axed from the top job.
Barcelona vs Man City
March 18, 2015
Pellegrini is under growing scrutiny as City's season threatens to unravel and hopes of finishing top of the league start to disappear.
City have fallen six points behind Chelsea, who have a game in hand, after a run of just three wins in nine games.
Their hopes of salvaging some silverware from the campaign now seem to come down to the unlikely prospect of overturning a 2-1 deficit at Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.
City dropped Mancini after a frustrating 2012-13 season, just a year after winning the title, and - based on that - Pellegrini's prospects could be bleak.
Manuel Pellegrini feels his team need to be more clinical in front of goal after they failed to score in a 1-0 defeat to Burnley
But Pellegrini belives his future will not follow that path, and has said previously he is looking to stay on at the club beyond his current contract, which lasts until 2016.
"Roberto left the club for other reasons, not because he didn't win anything one year. It's not 'if you don't win, you're out,” Pellegrini told The Daily Mailand Guardian newspapers
"Of course winning trophies here is extremely important. I understand you can't just say, ‘It doesn't matter, we'll come in fourth or fifth because we've got a long-term project'.
"But in the last four years this team has won two leagues, come second once, and won the FA Cup and the Capital One Cup.
"I have never felt the situation is that if I don't win I am out whatever happens."
Jamie Carragher feels Manchester City need a result against Barcelona in the Champions League to save Manuel Pellegrini from getting the sack.
Pellegrini had his player purchasing limited to £49m last summer as punishment for the club's failure to comply with European governing body UEFA's Financial Fair Play restrictions.
"This year we improved the squad while working within those limits,” Pellegrini said.
“What we did not do was bring in a crack (player). I think this team now needs a crack, another special player just to give us that sense that we are now at another level."
Pellegrini thinks the FFP regulations have unfairly punished City. Owner Sheikh Mansour may have spent extraordinary sums recruiting players but that has been matched by heavy INVESTMENT on infrastructure to grow the club and City are debt-free.
"I was at Malaga, a club in debt, so I understand that you have to avoid clubs having unsustainable budgets, accumulating unpaid debts,” the Chilean manager said.
"But preventing you from INVESTING, speculating, is absurd. It's anti-competitive. The intentions are good, but FFP needs serious revision."
City will certainly look to the transfer market again in the summer but retaining the services of 29-year-old midfielder James Milner is also high among Pellegrini's priorities.
"It would be very difficult to find a more complete player than Milner.
"There are players who are better technically. There are quicker players. There are players who head the ball better.
“But show me a player who does all the things that Milner does well and there isn't one. And whatever position I put him in he plays well.”
Charlie Nicholas: Arsenal paid the price for a terrible first-leg performance
