A brilliant ball from Saliba. The action continues, and more with stubbornness than quality, Arsenal sends Bukayo Saka to score: will this be enough to win the double confrontation against Atlético Madrid and fly to the Champions League final? A perhaps surprising achievement, but it would be unfair to call it undeserved: we are indeed talking about the team that dominated the group stage, with eight wins out of eight matches played, and above all the best defense in the tournament. Just six goals conceded in 14 matches. An impregnable fortress orchestrated by Raya and wonderfully guarded by the quartet Calafiori-Gabriel-Saliba-White – impeccable even against the Colchoneros.
There is also a statistic that makes everything even more remarkable. In terms of expected goals, that is the differential between goals scored and goals expected based on the chances created, Arsenal is a concentrate of solidity that compensates for some shortcomings in front of goal: throughout the competition, they scored 39 goals, against 32.35 expected; as mentioned, they conceded 6, while statistics show their opponents should have totaled 11.71. That is almost double. A gap too large to be simply attributed to luck or the opposing strikers having an off night. “In the decisive moments of the double confrontation, we were not concrete,” admitted Diego Simeone after his Atlético’s defeat. “We had many chances, but the ball just didn’t want to go in,” reiterated Koke. Wrong: the Spaniards simply ran into the Gunners.
Therefore, ample credit must be given to the first finalist of this Champions – after twenty years of abstinence, and never having won the cup. Even in the Premier League – where Arsenal’s drought has lasted even since 2004 – Arteta’s boys showcase the best defense in the tournament. And over a very long season, so far with 59 matches, the total goals conceded are just 41. As many as the Gunners’ victories. But it is especially in Europe that Calafiori and his teammates tighten the ranks: nine clean sheets are an enormous feat, especially considering the few occasions when Raya’s goal was not kept intact – first against Bayern, then in the meaningless matches against Inter and Qairat, with the team already qualified for the round of 16, and finally in the first legs, between the round of 16 and semi-final, away at Bayer Leverkusen and Atlético Madrid. In short, when it was time to raise the barricades, there was no way for the opponents to breach the Emirates goal.
Regardless of the outcome, it is already certain that Arsenal will face an opponent with firepower far superior to all others in the final: whether it’s Kane’s Bayern – already defeated during the group stage – or Kvara’s PSG, a true clash of opposites will take place in Budapest. Because the Gunners have all their brightest champions in defense, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. On the contrary: if Arteta favors a rough, effective, lethal style on set pieces and is prudent just enough, it is precisely to enhance a squad with that type of quality. Very high, in any case. But without taking anything away from Havertz or Gyokeres, certain runs are built during the phase of not having possession. And if Arsenal has never come this close to a historic Double, there must be a reason.