Arsene Wenger says he was hoping Arsenal would grab one extra goal in the second half of their first-leg clash with CSKA Moscow after racing to a 4-1 lead before the break.
Two goals each by Aaron Ramsey and Alex Lacazette put the Gunners in a commanding position ahead of next week’s return fixture in Moscow keeping alive hopes of a first European trophy since 1994.
Here’s what the boss had to say to BT Sport after a decent performance.
On the performance…
Yes, I think we’ve done half of the job. The first half was played with a good pace and the second half the level dropped, especially on the physical front. The two teams gave absolutely everything from the start on, that’s why it was a spectacular first half. After that, for us, the target in the second half was not to concede [another] goal, which we did, and to add one more, that’s what we didn’t do. We had plenty of opportunities, unfortunately, we couldn’t score another goal.
You know how football is, you want to make the difference as big as possible. If it had been 1-1 tonight, we’d have signed up for 4-1.
On Ramsey’s goal…
It was a great goal [by Ramsey], recently we have seen some great goals in football. It’s a moment in the season where they matter, even a bit more. Aaron was at the end of many things tonight. He scored two and one special one.
On Lacazette…
Yes, he wanted to [stay on]. Honestly, he didn’t look fatigued but I wanted to add one more goal and I thought one more guy with power like Danny [Welbeck] can get us a goal. On the other hand, there was no need to take a gamble with Lacazette.
On CSKA scoring…
They are a side that is good going forward. They come out very quickly, have a good technical level and they play in a very offensive way. They look always dangerous.
On Mkhitaryan’s injury…
He has a knee problem, I hope it’s not too bad. We’ll assess that tomorrow morning, tonight they say it’s impossible to say how bad it is.
On belief being sky high after this result…
Look, we have to be realistic in our game. We have to do the job over there and go there and try to win the game, that’s probably the best way to do the job.
Me thinks a Laca beaming with confidence and admittedly not fatigued would be in better stead to get you an extra goal than a fit and fresh welbeck!
I get not taking risks on Laca though!
Let’s putin just as sublime an effort in Russia next week. COYG
Given how well Laca has come back into the team, it was sensible to bring him off when the game was already won. I get the calls to keep him on and let him finish the game, maybe add one more. But we still as a club are learning what he is like in terms of bouncing back from injury. Of course there will Be people who will disagree with Arsene for being cautious, and yet in the past when he’s risked a player beyond a game being won or in some cases lost completely, there was the question of… Read more »
Yes, Putin an equally sublime performance in Russia
The win makes Arsene sounds like he knew what he was doing. He didn’t. Laca’s sub says it all. Dude coaches by default.
Taking a guy off that has just come back from injury. With our other striker cup tied, protecting Laca is very important.
I think Auba gets the assist for Lacazettes pen tonight. Beaming with confidence after being allowed to take one against Stoke. Nerves might of been a much bigger problem had he not.
Can see why laca came off but jack looked dead on his feet and should of been taking off a lot earlier.
Jack shouldn’t have started. I would have had Elneny in the mid with Xhaka and moved Rambo a bit forward. Elneny also seems to free-up Xhaka a bit more offensively too.
But hey, we won 4-1 so what do I know? 🙂
Yup. I’d play 3 CMs with Elneny anchoring at the base, Xhaka coordinating the passes and dropping back as DM, and Ramsey free to bomb forward any time to get the best out of him. Ozil and micky on the flanks with freedom to drift in any time.
Take him off. There’s no better option for leg two and the semis than Laca. We’d be livid if one of the muscovites took a bite out of him late on in frustration.
Laca had to come off. We got Saints on Sunday, next friday CSKA and then Newcastle that same sunday.
He will probably play alongside Pierre. After a long injury safe to say he needs a rest.
I thought he was more bumped not getting his first hattrick
I mean we have to protect Lacazette. The alternative is Welbeck. Sublime goal by Ramsey. When it comes together we are simply irrepressible. Still think we are one or two quality players off copetitive not least another wide player. When Mhkitaryan came off, we lost a bit of fluency. Iwobi was spritely for 10 minutes and carved a number of good opportunities but you feel we need a more experience man as well as an alternate should one of the more experience players in the position take a knock. Ramsey’s beginning to show some form. His best instincts is into… Read more »
Agree on taking off Laca, Ramsey was excellent, give that man whatever he wants!
Is Jack hiding an injury? Seems his form has just dropped overnight. Obviously he wants to be in the WC squad, and being injured eouldnt help him in contract negotiations either. Anyway, just a thought.
Those in favour of subbing off Laca for the sake of caution, say “aye”. The “ayes” have it! *hits gavel*.
Looking for a 4th goal and pytting danny on?
Cech…bella musta kozzer nacho….elneny xaka rams…mikhi lakaz ozil seems to be the best 11 now….
And Welbeck almost scored. OK almost got us a goal. He missed a tap in but the defender’s clearance deflected off him and almost went in.
He also mentioned Özil but well… it’s Arseblog…