The Real Madrid programming stardust shone in a quick look at their team sheet.
With Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, just a few exceptional names among the artillery of the Spanish giants, the task of the Arsenal background line was a gigantic.
In particular without Gabriel, their star defending this campaign which underwent an injury to the hamstrings at the end of the season last week against Fulham.
Jakub Kiwior, who has only made three departures in 31 championship games this season, took his place, alongside William Saliba, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Timber jurrien.
For a defense featuring a man that Mikel Arteta avoids playing, a teenager and a player who had a few recent shots, they did a solid job.
On the evidence of Tuesday evening, despite the occasional summary moment, Arsenal is able to chain a defense together almost strong enough to resist reality during the return match at the Bernabeu next Wednesday – in particular with their advance of three goals in a trailer.
Jakub Kiwior made only three departures in 31 league games this season for Arsenal
Mikel Arteta hesitated to play it but threw him into fire on Tuesday evening
Mbappe has soared when Kiwior cheated on a bouncing ball very early in the game
The two formidable free kicks from Declan Rice will rightly take applause. His first on 58 minutes, wrapping the ball around the opposition wall, before adding a second 12 minutes later by choosing the upper right corner, were really world class.
However, the defense of the Gunners deserves the credit. It was Kiwior’s inclusion that had worried most of Arsenal’s supporters. Arteta is reluctant to play it and when he did, the post has often been partial to the strange clock here and there.
His wandering pass over 24 minutes put Mbappe through it, which found itself offside and burst the ball, after an accident in the first minute when it deceived the bouncing ball. Aside from this moment of madness, he played his role well and was clever to make sure he was staying in position.
Any shift in concentration or positional malfunction would have been exploited. He became the game and in the second half, Kiwior on the ball did not make nerves around the Emirates.
From there, even when Mbappe or Vinicius Jnr defense under pressure, saliba tastes were there to face them.
Kiwior has long been linked to the distance from the club in northern London, this summer considered to be the right time by some.
Perhaps it also played an additional motivation for him in a performance that has shown that he had qualities that cannot be reduced. Not that the chance to play Real Madrid was not a motivation, the mind.
Whenever Mbappe or Vinicius Jnr put themselves on the ball in space, the danger could certainly be felt while they wander forward in Pace on the counterattack.
Kiwior, (left), Jurrien Timber (right) and the defense had performed performances
Thomas Parte was incredibly solid in the midfield and helped protect the defense
Both turned on the post-briefs by blows when the space allowed and, when they did, their overvoltages have sometimes left three or four players in their wake.
This is why, regardless of the number of arsenal objectives, the defense had a more important role than usual due to the attacking threat to them.
Thomas Parte also played his role, which dates back to Mop if necessary. The Ghanaian had the gift of finding himself in the right areas if necessary to overwhelm Mbappe in number and put solid plated.
This balance was particularly necessary against the talent and capacity of Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly to compete.
Lewis-Skelly also needs a mention. Its growth in the bench from the first team to a cap in England, to start against Real, is simply extraordinary.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was sensational and so composed for a player of his age on the big stage
And Tuesday evening, he again showed a new acceleration of levels. He provided a certain number of sumptuous through the ball, especially in the first half, which broke the game or passed the attackers of Arsenal.
It was its facility on the ball and the capacity of passage which made its tender 18 year old age.
Overall, it was a job well done by the defense of Arsenal. Another sterling pound screen will be necessary next week to get first place in the semi-finals of the Champions League since 2009.
They are certainly capable of it.
