'We come here to play and not just defend' - Filippo Giovagnoli demands his players be brave against Arsenal

As we see so often in football, many minnows going to the Emirates for a cup game for example tend to sit back, let Arsenal dominate ball possession and entice them to break them down.

Filippo Giovagnoli is determined for his Dundalk players not to let this game pass them by and retreat into their shell.

“I will love (that the players) play relaxed, composed and don’t be nervous and just try to perform their best and show their quality,” said Giovagnoli speaking in London ahead of Thursday’s Europa League game in the Emirates.

“I’m going to tell them for sure to have fun.”

In previous years, one could say that perhaps visiting players were beaten before taking to the field in Highbury.

While this isn’t the Arsenal side of that famous venue where the likes of Tony Adams, Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp plied their trade, there are vast swathes of quality no matter which Arsenal side take to the Emirates. Dundalk know they are in for the battle of their lives.

Speaking on what his players need to do to perform well, Giovagnoli wants his players to be brave not only out of possession but in possession too.

“They will need to try to possess, even here in this stadium, you have to have some kind of combination, some build-up which we want to (implement) in our style.

“We come here to play and not just defend and stay behind and wait, suffering until the end of the game. No, not this, I would love to see them take a chance, an opportunity, take responsibility on the field, this is what I want to see.”

Both Arteta and Giovagnoli are at the dawn of their respective managerial careers. The Italian admires many football minds all over the world, from Marcelo Lippi to Pep Guardiola, but feels that Arteta is an inspiration for him. 



“Mikel Arteta is an inspiration for us, the style that he wants to implement with Arsenal is completely an inspiration for us.

"The way that they want to build up, even against Liverpool who are one of the best pressing teams in the world, they didn’t care, they still want to build up from the goalkeeper. 

“It’s an attacking style and the principle of their build-up play is amazing. The reaction when they lose the ball is amazing, what they try to apply is amazing.”

Quite the glowing assessment from the man from Apecchio. 

Thursday’s game will show the proof in the pudding. Can Arsenal execute their attacking game plan, or can Dundalk cause the North London side problems from set plays?

If they can, it might just be the greatest European win for any Irish side ever. 



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