Transition threats and van Domselaar heroics: How Arsenal held on to beat Chelsea
Gunners' Champions League victory was defined by several tactical phases
Arsenal came into their Champions League quarter-final second leg knowing that they were the side with everything to lose.
They headed to Stamford Bridge with a 3-1 lead and unlike last season’s comeback win against Real Madrid – the Gunners had trailed 2-0 after a first leg defeat in the Spanish capital before roaring back to win 3-0 (3-2) in the return leg at the Emirates - Renee Sleger’s side were in danger of assuming the role of the hunted, rather than hunter against Chelsea.
In many ways, that made the task somewhat more complex than it might otherwise have been. Even as a team that prefers to play on the front foot, there is undoubtably a subconscious element of knowing you have a lead to defend, rather than a deficit to attack.
With that said, this match could be broken down into the three key phases, which ultimately led to a 1-0 Chelsea win on the night, a result that saw Arsenal squeeze through on aggregate.
