Bouncing back after a sour experience is vital for progress in life, and that was what Arsenal did on the road on Monday night.
The side saw themselves knocked out of the UEFA Europa League last Thursday after a home loss to Olympiacos. Nothing made it more painful than the fact that they were the side at advantage going into the tie having recorded a 1-0 win over the Greek team in the first leg of the last-16 encounter.
A Papa Abou Cisse header came shortly after halftime to put both sides on level terms on aggregate. The fight could not be settled at the end of 90 minutes, so extra time came in as the next option.
As we got a bit back to ourselves after much struggle, the visitors also did not relent. They built a defence line as strong as a wal made with Dangote cement but we came fortunate through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who gave us a goal. We had the lead.
We all wanted the game to end at this point for fear of the unknown. Yes, the unknown will come to haunt us soon. Olympoiacos got a late one to make it 2-2 and with the away-goal rule, we had to give way. It ended for us for the season. It was saddening.
Fast forward to four nights later and Arsenal were in action in the Emirates FA Cup, the only competition with hopes of a trophy for the season left for them. The game away at Portsmouth fell under the fifth round stage of the contest.
Both sides held one another to ransom for 45 minutes before Arteta’s well-rotated side made a positive statement. Before that, we experienced a negative which was an injury to Lucas Torreira. He had to be stretchered off.
Back to the positive! The stalemate was aborted in added time of the first half when Our centre-back playing as right-back, Sokratis, volleyed Reiss Nelson’s cross after Dani Ceballos had supplied him.
Nelson gave another assist for Eddie Nketiah to make it two in the second half and that was how it will end even though we would go on to get other unconverted chances. We were also able to keep Portsmouth off our nets, thanks to impressive displays from David Luiz and Pable Mari. The latter made his debut for the first team since joining during the winter transfer window.
We are now in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Go Gunners!
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