Happy match day, everyone.

 

No rest for the wicked here at Arsenal Legion. The games are coming thick and fast after the interlull, and that's how we like it.

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The match tonight sees the one and only (thank god) Master of the Dark Arts, Diego 'El Cholo' Simeone bring his Atletico de Madrid (from now on known as Atleti) and god awful Cholo-ball to town for match day three of the Champions League in what we're calling "The Berta Derby".

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We all know what to prepare for, what kind of game it will be. His sides have always been absolutely murder to watch, despite having some of the world's best talent throughout his tenure at his disposal.

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They say that sometimes the team mirrors their manager, and Atleti are probably the poster boys for that. It's like he/they just can't help themselves, no matter the game situation. When they are winning, it's clutch any part of their anatomy to waste time. When they are losing, it's clutch any part of their anatomy with an added SCREAM, to get an opponent sent off. Makes you want to stab yourself in the eyeballs with a sharp object.

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It's a shame because in his fourteen years in the job, competing against two footballing superpowers, 'El Cholo' has quite the resume: 2 La Liga titles, 1 Copa del Rey, 2 Europa Leagues, 2 UEFA Super Cups, 2 Champions League (losing) finals. Nobody has ever doubted his managerial ability; it's all the other stuff that comes with it that puts people right off.

 

We always wonder if he has stayed so long at Atleti because he is genuinely happy, is allowed to work how he wants and thinks he can achieve all his goals there or is it because the few top sides in Europe he might consider leaving for look at his touchline antics and don't want any part of it.

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Their form this season has been somewhat up and down. They sit fourth in La Liga but are undefeated in the league since a shock opening day defeat to Espanyol. They have four wins four draws and one defeat in their nine games. One of their victories was a 5-2 dismantling of Real Madrid, so when they are on it, they are truly fearsome opponents.

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In their two Champions League games, they tore apart a very good Eintracht Frankfurt side 5-1 before the late 3-2 defeat to Liverpool last time out at Anfield, and the oh so predictable head loss by Simeone and his staff. That was without star striker Alvarez who missed the game through injury (typical Liverpool).

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In their first summer in twelve years without Andrea Berta overseeing the off-field side of things, they were in somewhat of a flux due to his replacement Almeny not arriving from Barca until after the window closed so it was left to head honcho Carlos Bucero, The General Director of Football to oversee things who took a more collective approach with his existing staff.

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Money was spent, that certainly wasn't an issue. £180m went on players like exciting Spanish international winger Alex Baena, from Villareal, signed for £42m. £26m was spent on left-sided Slovakian centre half/left back David Hancko, who was heavily linked with Liverpool and a reunion with his old Feyenoord boss Slot. A further £46m was spent on USA international midfielder Cardoso from Betis and Italian international goal poacher Raspadori from Napoli. Serie A was raided further for full back Ruggeri from Atalanta whilst they stayed domestic for another full back in Pugill, plucked from La Liga 2's UD Almeria.

 

Their transfer business ended with highly rated Argentine winger Almada arriving from Botafogo accompined by a loan of fellow Argentine Nico Gonzalez from Juve. French international centre half Clement Lenglet rounded things off, arriving on a free from Barca.

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Departures wise they didn't lose anyone they wanted to keep. They cut their losses on Young Belgian midfielder Vermeeren, who after only five appearances, left for Germany and Leipzig. Winger Lino returned to Brazil and Flamengo to make way and help pay for the incoming Baena. A host of other players including Witsel, Mandava, Niguez, Azpilicueta, Lemar and De Paul all departed on free transfers.

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On the pitch, make no mistake, Atleti arent just a hard working side who play a suffocating brand of football. They have star power in their own right.

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Starting from the back, goalkeeper Oblak has been amongst the games elite shot stoppers for a decade. At the other end, even at 34 years of age, Griezmann is still chief string puller and in Julian Alvarez they have one of the games best strikers who seems to have jumped a couple of levels since leaving Manchester to be the main man at Madrid. We always like it when players refuse to sit on the bench and collect a fat pay check. The minute City signed Halaand, Alvarez knew his time was up and wanted a move to play regularly. We get it and admire it. In midfield we all know what familiar face Connor Gallaghers game is all about. Whether he starts remains to be seen.

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Do we have previous with Atleti in Europe? Yes we certainly owe them one. Just like Olympiacos, this seasons Champions League so far is like some kind of redemption tour. In 2018, in Wengers last year they knocked us out the semis of the Europa League. After losing 1-0 to a Diego Costa goal over there, we absolutely battered them at The Carpet after they had a guy sent off 10 minutes in. Despite going ahead with a Laca goal on the hour mark, Griezmann killed us with an 82nd minute equaliser, did the Fortnite celly, and that was that.

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​In respect to team news, their new signing Cardoso is out with an ankle problem. One of their other new guys Gonzalez was substituted at the weekend with a head knock but travelled and should play. Lenglet should return after serving a domestic suspension. Everyone else is available.

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For us we didn't lose anyone from the weekend and hopefully after a false start, Hincapie can return to the squad. We think Merino comes in for Eze as the only change with Mikel opting for a bit more strength and power in midfield to combat their antics. We can then see bit more rotation on he horizon for Palace come the weekend.

 

Not that we like to blow our own trumpet but we did (for once) call the lineup correctly for Fulham. Hey even a broken clock is right twice a day.