Merson analyzes Arsenal s defeat: Thomas absence becomes key

PuBoard Network reported on May 3 that in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals, Arsenal lost 0-1 to Paris Saint-Germain at home. After the game, Gunners' celebrity Merson conducted an in-depth analysis of the game and looked forward to the next round of showdown.

Merson bluntly stated that it was not surprising that Paris Saint-Germain had the upper hand in the midfield, and the core reason for Arsenal's suppression was Thomas' absence. "Thomas is a key figure in Arsenal's midfield. His absence greatly reduced the team's control and confrontation ability in the midfield, which allowed Paris to control the rhythm."

Talking about Arsenal's platoon, Merson put forward his own opinion: "If it were me, I would arrange for Skelly to be in the midfield, and Merino would be in place to strengthen offensive connections. But in this game, Arsenal's adjustments seemed to have too much, which affected the tacit understanding and tactical execution among the players." In his opinion, frequent changes in lineups have made the team spend more energy to adapt to the rhythm of the game, and thus missed the ability to seize opportunities.

Looking forward to the second leg, Merson is optimistic about Arsenal's prospects: "After Thomas returns, his midfield strength will be significantly improved. His experience, defensive hardness and ball-taking ability can greatly improve the team's disadvantage in the midfield." Merson believes that as long as Arsenal makes reasonable tactical adjustments, reduce unnecessary lineup changes, and give full play to the characteristics of the players, there is a chance to turn the situation around the away game.

This defeat undoubtedly sounded a wake-up call for Arsenal, but Thomas' return and Merson's tactical suggestions also made fans look forward to the second round. Whether the Gunners can stage a good reversal is worth paying attention to.