The Gunners should play a second string in the return leg against Barcelona in the Champions League last 16 and keep players fresh for title challenge
Arsene Wenger rarely gives up but even the Arsenal manager admitted that it will be almost “impossible” for the club to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League after Tuesday night’s 2-0 loss to Barcelona.
The Gunners need a miracle at the Camp Nou on March 16 and it was clear that Wenger has all but given up as he slammed an “average” and “naive” performance from his side as they were sunk by two second-half Lionel Messi goals.
Wenger knows there is no way back. This will be Arsenal’s sixth successive exit in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the second leg such a formality that Gerard Pique appeared to intentionally pick up a booking that means he will be suspended for the match.
Arsenal are light years behind the likes of Barcelona and this is not a competition that they can win in the foreseeable future.
So it is time to concentrate on the Premier League and the FA Cup for the north London club. Two competitions they can win this season.
Arsenal are third in the table, two points behind leaders Leicester, and are the bookmakers’ favourites to win the title this season for the first time since 2004.
Three days after the second leg in Barcelona, they face a tricky lunchtime kick-off away against Everton. The trip to Goodison Park is now far more important.
Wenger should write off the second leg and rest some of his key players. Even his first choice starting XI are at risk of a mighty hammering that could shatter their confidence ahead of the title run-in.
So why ask the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to run themselves into the ground when you could have them fresh for the Everton match?
Frankly, it doesn’t matter who plays against Barcelona because the end result will be the same. Wenger should use it as an opportunity to rotate his squad, maybe even to give some vital experience to younger players like Alex Iwobi.
If the response to Manuel Pellegrini is anything to go by, it will actually help Arsenal and Wenger avoid criticism. Manchester City were largely praised on Sunday despite a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Chelsea in the FA Cup after Pellegrini gave first-team debuts to five teenagers.
Arsenal have responded well to setbacks so far this season, but how they react to Tuesday night’s defeat could define their season.
Three of the Gunners next five league matches are away against Manchester United, Tottenham and Everton, while they will face Watford in the FA Cup quarter-finals if they win their replay with Hull.
The Premier League has always been the priority this season and Wenger will never get a better chance to make Arsenal champions again.
The chaos at traditional title rivals such as Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City has opened the door for Wenger’s men.
It is theirs to lose and there are no excuses. Wenger has won back-to-back FA Cups but he must show he has not forgotten how to win the title.
That means doing whatever it takes to win. It means giving up on the second leg against Barcelona and throwing everything at becoming Premier League champions.
- Goal