Diego Simeone's tactical adjustments helped Atletico Madrid regain the game against Arsenal at Metropolitano. Switching to a 5-defender formation in the second half caused many difficulties for the away team's attack, but according to Simeone, the decisive factor lies in fitness.
The Argentine coach emphasized that Arsenal has been eroded by the dense schedule and competitive pressure of both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. This helps Atletico increase the intensity after the break and create more opportunities, although they cannot take advantage of them.
In fact, Arsenal has played 57 matches this season - the most among clubs in the top European leagues. And right after the 1-1 draw with Atletico, they have to continue to face Fulham in the domestic league. Meanwhile, Atletico (55 matches) is almost no longer under pressure in La Liga as they have secured a Champions League spot, helping them have better conditions to allocate their fitness.
The overload of the "Gunners" is clearly shown when many key players such as David Raya, Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice have all exceeded the milestone of 4,000 minutes of play. This also partly explains the harsh reaction of coach Mikel Arteta after Arsenal was denied an important penalty.
However, Arsenal's fighting spirit is still very commendable. Under constant pressure from Atletico in the second half, the defense with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes played solidly, contributing to keeping the draw. The whole team also showed discipline when supporting synchronous defense, from defenders to attacking players.
Arteta admitted he is proud of how his players overcame the harsh period that lasted throughout the season, especially when playing away against an experienced opponent like Atletico.
In the context of the remaining semi-final witnessing an explosive score chase, Arsenal showed strength in defense when they only conceded 6 goals after 13 matches in the Champions League this season. However, this pragmatic playing style also partly stems from the difficulties in force in attack.
The personnel changes at the end of the match - with the presence of Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Jesus - helped Arsenal regain the game. This squad depth also made Simeone admit that he was facing a very strong team.
In addition, psychological factors also play an important role. Having to maintain high form on many fronts makes The Gunners always in a state of tension, especially when small mistakes can cost the whole season. That sometimes makes them play more cautiously than necessary, prioritizing control instead of risk.
However, the resilience and bravery in difficult times are a sign that Arsenal is getting closer to the level of a true championship contender.
However, Arsenal's journey is still full of challenges. In front of them is the confrontation with Fulham in the Premier League, before entering the decisive second leg. The dense schedule makes them not only have to fight against opponents, but also with their own physical limits.
