Arsenal warned to beware Atletico Madrid pitch after Kinsky slips

'The Mail's on-site reporter, Isaan Khan, pointed out that Arsenal especially needs to be wary of Atletico Madrid's controversial home turf, as many European opponents visiting recently have been deeply troubled by the field conditions.

Previously, Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Kinsky slipped twice, directly gifting goals, and Barcelona complained to UEFA about the length of the grass before their Champions League quarter-final second leg defeat.

Arsenal's set-piece tactics have always been regarded by the outside world as off-the-ball tactics, and some even bluntly say that it is a melee of pulling and tugging in the penalty area.

But Diego Simeone's gaming methods are a higher level of calculation.

He has a deep understanding of this set of tactics, and he was already proficient in it as a player. In the 1998 World Cup, David Beckham was deeply affected by his moves and was sent off for retaliatory kicking; Simeone later admitted that he deliberately dived to create a foul, causing Beckham to be shown a red card and leave the field.

Precisely because of Atletico Madrid's consistent style of play, Arsenal must be highly vigilant about this confrontational battle in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final away game on Wednesday evening. This is not only a contest of skills, but also a severe test of mentality and willpower.

Atletico Madrid mainly plays with a contracted defense and counter-attacks under pressure. Relying on the enthusiastic atmosphere of the home fans, their European home games have always been extremely difficult to conquer. The team is good at using clever tactics to disintegrate the opponent's mentality, and tactical fouls and delaying time are common tactics.

And what Arsenal especially needs to be wary of is this controversial home turf. Many European opponents visiting recently have been deeply troubled by the field conditions.

In the Champions League Round of 16 last month, Tottenham Hotspur visited the Metropolitano Stadium and suffered a crushing 2-5 defeat. The poor field conditions severely limited the team's performance.

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Kinsky made frequent mistakes throughout the game, bursting into tears and being forced to be substituted after only 17 minutes, leaving behind an unforgettable nightmare. He slipped twice, directly gifting goals, allowing Llorente and Alvarez to score easily; during which Van de Ven also slipped and made a mistake, and Antoine Griezmann seized the opportunity to score.

Kinsky's outrageous mistakes were certainly the main reason, but the problem of the slippery field was also highly questioned.

After the game, Griezmann bluntly said: Atletico Madrid seized the opponent's mistakes, the field was very slippery, and we had already adapted to this environment. These words are thought-provoking, and this field has caused controversy due to field problems more than once recently.

Earlier this month, Barcelona complained to UEFA about the length of the grass before their Champions League quarter-final second leg defeat. Coach Hansi Flick also specifically pointed to the height of the grass during the final training session before the game and communicated with UEFA event officials.

Article 34 of the UEFA Champions League rules clearly stipulates: the home team shall take all reasonable measures to ensure that the venue meets the best competition standards. If affected by the climate, facilities such as field heating and dust-proof coverings must be used to ensure that the field conditions on the competition day comply with regulations.

However, the definition of the regulations is vague, and the lack of a clear standard for "all reasonable measures" leaves room for manipulation.

The 'Daily Mail' conducted an on-site visit to the Metropolitano Stadium on Monday and found that with 48 hours to go before the game, seven sprinkler systems were continuously spraying water on the high-temperature and sun-exposed lawn, and field trimming and maintenance work was fully underway. The problem of long grass in this game is unlikely to occur.

But whether the field is slippery or not is still unknown. Stadium staff revealed: Two minutes before the start of the game, the staff will still turn on the sprinklers to replenish water, deliberately increasing the humidity of the field.

For Arsenal, who mainly play passing and control, a slippery field will have a fatal impact. Arteta's team, especially Martin Ødegaard, are accustomed to quick short passes and patiently looking for gaps. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick expressed concern to UEFA about Atletico Madrid's grass length before his team's quarter-final second leg defeat.

Atletico Madrid will also disrupt the rhythm of the game through midfield strangulation and deliberate deceleration, especially when leading. Once players are afraid of slipping, the offensive connection will be frequently interrupted and the rhythm will be chaotic, and Bukayo Saka's wing breakthroughs will also be restricted.

The grass in some areas of the stadium is severely worn, and it is extremely easy to become muddy and slippery after continuous watering. This is very different from the carefully maintained, smooth and high-quality turf of Arsenal's home stadium, the Emirates Stadium, and high-quality field conditions are an important guarantee for the Gunners' passing and control style of play.

There is no doubt that even if Arsenal players find it difficult to adapt to the field, Atletico Madrid will never show mercy. This is their home field, and everything is under control. In the top European competition arena, adaptability is a mandatory requirement, not an excuse. For a long time, Atletico Madrid has always been good at controlling the rhythm of the game, whether it is at the tactical level or the increasingly obvious field environment level.

For Arteta's team, stabilizing the mentality is as important as controlling the rhythm. Standing firm and staying calm will directly determine the trend of the two rounds. Once the mentality collapses and the movements are out of shape, the ready-to-go Atletico Madrid will immediately seize the loopholes and win with one blow.