Thierry Henry believes Arsenal are ‘essentially the most solid’ team within the Champions League but fears the team’s biggest weakness could prevent them from winning the competition.
Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders have one foot within the semi-finals after beating Sporting 1-0 in the primary leg of their quarter-final tie on Tuesday night.
Arsenal had lost back-to-back games for the primary time this season going into the Champions League quarter-finals, losing to title rivals Manchester City within the Carabao Cup final and Championship side Southampton within the FA Cup.
Arteta was ‘very glad’ to see his team get back to winning ways out in Lisbon courtesy of Kai Havertz’s injury-time winner and take a one-goal lead back for next week’s return leg on the Emirates Stadium.
A clean sheet produced by the sensible David Raya against Sporting means Arsenal have now conceded just five goals in 11 Champions League games this season.
The Gunners also boast by far the most effective defensive record within the Premier League – conceding 22 goals in 31 games – and Henry views his former club as ‘essentially the most solid’ team in Europe.
Legendary striker Henry is anxious about Arsenal up the opposite end of the pitch, nevertheless, and says an absence of creativity may very well be an ‘issue’ for Arteta as he chases a Premier League and Champions League double.
Asked to discover Arsenal’s biggest strength and weakness ahead of their quarter-final first-leg against Sporting on Tuesday night, Henry said on CBS Sports: ‘We all know their biggest strength already, they’re strong as a team and really solid.
‘For me they’re essentially the most solid team within the Champions League. We also know concerning the set-pieces – persons are crying about that but it’s an element of the sport and a giant advantage for Arsenal because they’re pretty good at it.
‘But when the defence doesn’t work I don’t think we’re creating enough at times to give you the option to harm teams and that may be a difficulty.’
Speaking after Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Portuguese champions Sporting, Henry added: ‘It’s higher than coming back with a 0-0 obviously!
‘There wasn’t much in the sport or a whole lot of creativity but they did what that they had to do. They won away from home, let’s see what happens on the Emirates.’
The European clash looked set to finish in a stalemate before substitutes Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli combined to present Arsenal a late win.
‘It’s been the story of the season, how vital the finishers have been for us, to attain what we wish,’ Arteta said after the sport.
‘And today, all of them – Gabi got here on and made a big impact; Kai the identical; Max the identical. So we actually need that, and we’re really glad with that.
‘It’s very difficult to win away from home within the Champions League and positively against a team which have won 16 games in a row at home, in order that tells you what we’ve done.
How far will Arsenal go within the Champions League?
‘We had moments where we were very, very dominant, and we had our probabilities, we lacked certain threat in and across the box – we would have liked to be more efficient and crisper with our last pass, and as well we would have liked David twice to make a save to assist us to win.’
Asked whether he feels the job is just half done ahead of the return leg in north London, Arteta added: ‘100% and the players know that.
‘They understand how tough it’s going to be now at Emirates Stadium, and we’ll be fully ready for that.
‘The supporters were exceptional again, thanks a lot for following all the way in which here, and being with the team. We’re very glad to present them the victory.’
Arsenal put their Champions League aspirations on hold this weekend as they return to Premier League motion against Bournemouth.
The Gunners currently boast a nine-point lead over second-placed Manchester City, who’ve a game in hand.
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