Europa League hits and misses: Man Utd’s sluggishness against AC Milan, Arsenal’s errors proving problematic | Football News

United can’t repeat sluggish show in Milan

Regardless of lacking two sitters and netting via a wonderfully improvised Amad Diallo purpose, it is truthful to say Man Utd deserved little or no from this first-leg conflict at Previous Trafford.

At instances, the efficiency was about as sluggish as it’s got in current months from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s males.

Did they underestimate Milan? Earlier than the sport, the discuss was of a number of Milan absentees and doubts concerning the power of Serie A. These doubts look foolish now; Milan’s stand-ins have been wonderful and energetic, limiting United’s risk brilliantly and creating a number of huge probabilities of their very own.

However for Diallo’s magic, which got here throughout United’s solely actual constructive 15-minute spell firstly of the second half, and one other questionable VAR name for handball on Franck Kessie’s early strike, United can be going to Milan needing just a few targets. Because it occurs, they want no less than one.

Irrespective of how a lot Solskjaer continues to progress United domestically, he is aware of he wants a cup success to point out tangible evolution.

Solskjaer’s aspect should present much more within the second leg if they’re to progress and battle for that elusive silverware.
Gerard Model

Arsenal must stamp out the errors

Mikel Arteta mentioned his Arsenal undertaking goes to go “bang” earlier this week and there have actually been some encouraging indicators in current months. However till they discover a technique to cease capturing themselves within the foot, the progress will solely go up to now.

In opposition to Olympiakos, regardless of being completely dominant from the outset, they contrived to press the self-destruct button not as soon as, however twice.

Olympiakos did not punish them the primary time, Georgios Masouras blasting wastefully over after David Luiz had misplaced possession in his personal field shortly after the opening purpose, however Dani Ceballos wasn’t so fortunate for Youssef El-Arabi’s equaliser.

He was landed in hassle by Bernd Leno’s poor alternative of cross – the goalkeeper was partly at fault for Granit Xhaka’s error towards Burnley on Saturday too – nevertheless it was one other instance of carelessness from a participant whose errors nearly price Arsenal a spot within the last-16 towards Benfica.

Arsenal fought again once more in Athens, late targets from Mohamed Elneny and Gabriel Magalhaes securing a 3-1 win, however they’ve made an unwelcome behavior of surrendering positions of power with unforced errors and the development goes again additional than the current conferences with Burnley and Benfica.

In February, there was the David Luiz pink card that allowed Wolves to claw their approach again at Molineux. In December, Xhaka bought himself despatched off in a 1-0 loss to Burnley on the Emirates Stadium, whereas Gabriel earned two yellow playing cards in 4 minutes throughout a 1-1 draw with Southampton. Again in November, there was a equally unnecessary pink card for Nicolas Pepe throughout a goalless draw with Leeds.

There have been loads extra examples of errors which proved pricey final season – who might neglect how their earlier assembly with Olympiakos ended? – however Arsenal should now guarantee there should not too many extra.

Certainly, whereas their performances have improved significantly since Christmas, their urge for food for self-destruction means they don’t have the outcomes to point out for it. Arteta’s Arsenal undertaking could but go “bang” – however proper now it nonetheless appears to be like extra more likely to explode in their very own faces.
Nick Wright

Rangers’ record scoring run continues in Prague

Rangers left the Czech capital with a creditable 1-1 draw on Thursday, together with an important away purpose which will show decisive come the ultimate reckoning this time subsequent week, though that ought to come as no shock to anybody who has been following Steven Gerrard’s thrilling aspect this season.

Not solely have the newly-crowned Scottish Premiership champions scored of their final 23 away video games in all competitions – final failing to seek out the again of the online in a goalless draw at Livingston again in August.

However Rangers have additionally registered extra away targets than another staff within the Europa League up to now this season (12), making them severe challengers for Europe’s second-tier competitors.
Richard Morgan

Job half done for Spurs and Kane

A 12 months and a day since their Champions League journey was ended by RB Leipzig, Tottenham look a formidable outfit once more. This has been a spring of resurgence for Jose Mourinho’s males, who collected a fifth straight victory in all competitions towards Dinamo Zagreb.

Tottenham take a two-goal lead with them to the Croatian capital for the last-16 second leg subsequent week, and whereas Gareth Bale missed a late probability to place additional gloss on this newest success, there’s a actual swagger concerning the males in white at current.

Jose Mourinho has spoken of how a lot he would dearly beautiful to mark Daniel Levy’s 20 years on the membership with silverware and within the week of that anniversary, Spurs look in impolite well being to offer extra glory.

With Kane in such ominous kind, something is feasible for Tottenham and England – supplied he’s stored match.

Spurs followers could have been crammed with dread on the sight of ice being utilized to Kane’s troublesome proper knee following his late withdrawal, however he was out of his seat and strolling sprightly upon the ultimate whistle. It was merely a precautionary measure.

Zagreb aren’t fairly out of this but, however they’ve left themselves with an terrible lot of labor to do on their very own patch. Ought to Tottenham attain the ultimate in Gdansk, they might want to play one other 18 video games this season, whereas six of their subsequent seven scheduled matches are away from house, together with the League Cup ultimate with Manchester Metropolis subsequent month.

Each sport issues, as Hugo Lloris mentioned after this win, however having scored 37 targets in 12 Europa League fixtures up to now this time period, ending within the Premier League’s high 4 actually is not Tottenham’s solely probability of capping Levy’s twenty years on the helm with a sixth Champions League marketing campaign.
Ben Grounds