The powers that be at the Emirates Stadium have been handed a considerable dose of encouragement ahead of their blockbuster Champions League semi fina...
The powers that be at the Emirates Stadium have been handed a considerable dose of encouragement ahead of their blockbuster Champions League semi final showdown with Atletico Madrid. Exclusive information reaching GoalZaza indicates that Nigerian international Ademola Lookman is now a serious doubt for the crunch fixture. The former CAF Men. �s Player of the Year nominee has been the lion. �s share of Atletico. �s attacking output this term. The 27 year old winger has recorded a formidable tally of eleven goals and assists combined this campaign, establishing himself as the chief tormentor for Diego Simeone. �s men. However, whispers from the Spanish capital suggest that a niggle picked up in training could keep the fleet footed star on the sidelines. For the millions of Arsenal faithful across Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, this development is nothing short of a major psychological blow for the visitors. Lookman, who rose to global prominence after his masterclass in the Europa League final, knows the North London club intimately from his early days in English football. His absence would rob Atletico of their most clinical outlet on the pitch. In the grand scheme of things, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will now be expected to give a good account of themselves with renewed vigour. The Nigerian connection in this tie runs deep. Lookman. �s potential absence means that the formidable burden of carrying his side. �s attacking threat will fall squarely on the shoulders of the remaining Atletico forwards. The tactical balance of the semi final has shifted, and GoalZaza understands that the mood in the Arsenal camp is one of quiet confidence. At the end of the day, football is a game of fine margins. Any advantage, no matter how small, can be the difference between a trip to the final and a night of heartbreak. For Arsenal, this looks like a golden opportunity. Down in a bustling viewing centre in Surulere, the air would be thick with the smell of suya and the hum of excited chatter. When the news of Lookman. �s doubt filters through on the large screen, a chorus of cheers and relieved laughter would erupt. Elderly gentlemen in their retro Arsenal jerseys would nod knowingly, declaring that God is a Gooner. Young fans clad in fresh kits would immediately begin chanting about Wembley, their dreams of glory suddenly feeling far more tangible. The tension of the semi final would momentarily dissolve into a shared belief that the stars are finally aligning for the Gunners.
