Arsenal wiped out their season’s remaining goal quota by scoring SEVEN times in Eindhoven to set up a quarter-final defeat by Real Madrid.
The Gunners all but confirmed their place in the next round of the competition and look set to be heavily beaten by Real who won the first leg of their last-16 tie 2-1 against city rivals Atletico.
And 15-time champions Real will be buoyed by the fact that striker-less Arsenal have used up all their goals when the two sides meet in April.
‘I was pleased with the performance but not the scoreline’, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told Paddy Power News.
‘We were hoping to spread those goals across our remaining games. Our fans can expect a lot of drab goalless performances until the end of the season.
‘Still, it’s nice to get the fans hopes up one last time with this result before we crush their dreams again in Madrid’.
When asked how exhausting their goal quota will impact preparations for this weekend’s Premier League game, the Spaniard said:
‘Fortunately, we are playing Manchester United’.
So, the worst result we can hope for on Sunday is a 0-0 draw.
PIRAEUS, GREECE – FEBRUARY 20: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg match between Olympiacos FC and Arsenal FC at Karaiskakis Stadium on February 20, 2020 in Piraeus, Greece. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
‘But having studied some videos of United’s recent performances, I’m still optimistic of a 3-0 victory with own goals coming from Andre Onana, Diogo Dalot and Ramus Hojlund’.
In related news, Arsenal Director of football operations James King says last night’s record-breaking haul in Eindhoven vindicates the club’s decision to not buy a striker.
‘Why waste millions on a striker when you can deploy a makeshift front three comprising of a 17-year-old, a midfielder and a Trossard’, sources close to King revealed.
‘And with the money we’ve saved we can focus on bringing a sixth left back to the club in the summer’.
*Paddy Power News’s footy news is pure fantasy – don’t believe it for a second
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