Arsenal will face AC Milan making it the ‘Match of the Round of sixteen’ of the Europa League this season.
Both the clubs boasts handful of big names in the team sheet and supporters will certainly look out for their favorite coming on top of each other.
And talking about big names two of the well known goalkeepers come head to head Petr Cech and Gianluigi Donnarumma – One at the depth of his career and another at the rise of his, One regarded as best of his time and another tipped to be the best of the coming time.
Yes this battle will be exciting and Arsenalcore looks upon ‘how’ both of these goalkeepers fair, their strengths and their weaknesses.
Petr Cech
Petr Cech is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeeper of all time, a living legend. His time at Arsenal have come under scrutiny after degrade of his performances with the Gunners. Former Chelsea goalkeeper face race against time to prove the world that ‘he is still the man for Arsenal’.
Cech was handed Arsenal’s armband earlier this season, and is one of the most respected man in this Business.
SEASON 2017-18
Performance of Petr Cech have stagnated and his performance this season bears out Arsenal’s fans resentments. Petr Cech have note-ably come under criticism for his poor record with The North London side to save from the spot. Petr Cech have faced fifteen penalties since moving to Arsenal and have conceded in all the fifteen occasions. The dive to save came the wrong way in twelve of the fifteen times.
Petr is one of the experienced face at Arsenal and his words of wisdom will prove crucial in nail biting moments. He is tall and possesses comprehensive qualities – with extensive ball control strengths and reflexes.
Arsenal’s defence have come under criticism and will have to get their ‘shit together’ to have a chance in Europe.
With the attack possessing Suso, Calabria, Bonaventua, Calhanoglu and many more. This attacking line-up of Milan possesses pace, shooting qualities, eye for the pass – almost everything.
You may criticize Petr Cech ‘How-much ever’ you want, but you just cannot rule this man out. His experience will play an important role if Arsenal are to win the Europa League. Not only his quality as a goalkeeper but also his leadership qualities are essential.
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Gianluigi Donnarumma is one of the most proficient prospect, someone whose name will echo around the globe for long time.
He established his name with heroic performances for AC Milan during 2015-16 pre-season tour in China against big dogs – Real Madrid. At the moment, many Italians regard him as the successor to the great Ginaluigi Buffon.
Donnarumma is 6 ft 5 in tall and serving between the woodwork with this stature plays an important strength. He is even praised for his reflexes and sharpness of his composer. The Italian wonder kid is even known for his penalty saving ability and control of ball. Despite of his young age, he is one of the most consistent performing goalkeeper around the globe.
SEASON 2017-18
Gianluigi Donnarumma started his first ever European fixture against CS U Craiova, keeping clean sheets in both the legs helping Milan to qualify for Europa League before starting the Italia league this season with a clean sheet against Crotone. Donnarumma has six clean-sheets in Europe with 3 coming in the road to Europa League(qualifiers) and other three coming in the Europa League.
Just before the calendar turning to 2018, Gianluigi made his 100th appearance for AC Milan in Milan’s 1-1 draw against Fiorentina on 30th December.
Donnarumma is a house hold name now, but coming up against Arsenal’s attack is going to be different. It’s somewhat tricky and with the quality Arsenal possesses, a second of lack of concentration and ball is behind the net. With intelligence of Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan – it will be intresting to see ‘How well does young Donnarumma reads the game’.
If Alexandre Lacazette is back available for the fixture against AC Milan, he will just increase threat to get past Gianluigi highly.
Not only the players, but also the pace of the game will play an important criteria towards determining Gigio’s performance.
Arsenal will certainly be a big test for Donnarumma, as he has to prove his quality on a ‘big’ matchday with people watching from around the globe.
