Arsenal will not contend this year, again

Arsenal has much to do before being taken seriously again…

After defeating Colorado 3-0 in a friendly, and both Bayern Munich and Fiorentina as part of the International Champions Cup, the expectations got too high once again for the Gunners. And yes, you can get high expectations even in friendly competition during preseason.

Having caused a boom with last Wednesday’s win over the Bundesliga champions with a last-minute goal, and then confirming the good start to the 2019-20 season on Saturday with an easy 3 goal win over Italian side La Fiore, Arsenal fans were beginning to think, “This just might be real.”

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But all of these thoughts and dreams from North London followers came to a screeching halt on Tuesday night, even after Arsenal got off to a great start, going up 2-0 within 25 minutes against Zidane’s Real Madrid side looking for direction after a horrendous 2018-19 campaign.

The Spanish side were even down to ten men after central defender Nacho stopped Lacazette’s shot which was on goal with his hand, causing the ref to show him a red card at just the 9th minute of action. The Frenchman would then convert from the penalty spot one minute later.

Everything was going Arsenal’s way, with a 2 goal lead and one man up, and with a real chance to show the world what they are capable of, but 15 minutes after Aubameyang’s beautiful goal, reality hit the Gunners hard on the head, again.

This time it was Greek defender Sokratis, who for no reason committed two very hard fouls in a matter of two minutes, giving him a double yellow and sending him off by the 40th minute, putting Real Madrid right back in the game.

The Spaniards never looked back from there. In the final five minutes plus stoppage time of the first half, they had five clear chances to score, including a header to the post, and to Arsenal’s fortune, did not.

But the Gunners luck would soon run out, as it usually does when the pressure is on and the stakes are high. A huge blunder by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez at the 56th minute, followed by a wide-open Asensio shot about 10 yards from the goal 3 minutes later, gave Real Madrid an easy 2 goals to tie the game.

Not to mention a great shot outside the box by Asensio that went off the post, as well as a left-footed shot taken almost inside the six-yard box immediately from a cross on the right side by Vinicius.

And as for Arsenal, nothing. Ozil was non-existent in the second half. Lacazette and Aubameyang could never link up the way they did in the first half. Arsenal had once again fallen and shattered into pieces as we’re so used to seeing and were hanging on for dear life as Real Madrid paraded the ball from side to side at will, and were just unlucky with their shot direction. In the end, somehow, Arsenal survived with a 2-2 tie, which meant penalties were coming up.

As if Arsenal hadn’t had their chance to win in regulation already, they got another chance to shock the football world, after Reiss Nelson converted the Gunners first penalty, and Gareth Bale missed his. But after that, Arsenal would miss 3 of their final 4 penalty shots, handing Real Madrid the victory and proving once again they cannot deal with big games.

Arsenal just showed the world what will happen this football year, which is the same as the last 12-13 years. The North London side will be good, will compete with most teams, but ultimately will not be able to top this past year’s top 4, and in my opinion, Manchester United either this year.

They are in need of a big rebuild and must sell a bunch of their current players, along with bringing in some real quality and solid defenders. If Arsenal can’t accomplish that in these last 2-3 weeks before the season starts, they will finish 6th in the Premier this season and will be in the same situation a year from now that they’re in today.

What do you think about this upcoming season for Arsenal?