Morning.
I enjoyed last night’s Europa League final between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen, not because it was a brilliant game, but because it was just a game of football I could watch and not care one way or the other about who won. I have done too much caring recently, so it’s a bit of a treat to just let it play out one way or the other.
The Italian side won it, in no small part to Ademola Lookman, who banged in a sensational hat-trick. The third goal in particular, wooooof! It is always interesting to see how a player who struggled so much at one club has flourished elsewhere. He scored just 4 goals for Everton after moving from Charlton. He had so-so loan spells at Leicester and Fulham, but last night he was the main man in a European final. Sometimes you just need to find the right environment as a player.
This was, of course, Leverkusen’s first defeat of the season, and I’m not sure Xabi Alonso got it right tactically. His team selection from the off was a bit strange, and Atalanta’s style nullified them every time they got into their half. I watched Granit Xhaka, once of this parish, drop deeper and deeper to pick up the ball to try and get them going, and that was in stark contrast to where he played for us for the last couple of seasons – his most effective period as an Arsenal player.
It’s never easy to lose a final, but the safety-net of the Bundesliga – and the German cup final this weekend – will ensure it remains a great season for them. And as for Atalanta and Gian Piero Gasperini, it’s their first ever European trophy, their first silverware since the Italian Cup in 1963, so what a story that is for them. Sead Kolasinac, Europa League winner. Who’d have thought?
They’ll be an interesting team to keep an eye on in next season’s Champions League too.
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Meanwhile, Albert Sambi Lokonga, who spent an injury hit season on loan with Luton, has revealed he’ll be looking for a new club this summer after discussions with…
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Author : arseblog
Publish date : 2024-05-23 07:16:49
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