While the most important thing in football is scoring goals, the midfield battle is often crucial: "A game isn't won in midfield or by your midfielders, but the midfield battle is hugely important at the highest level of the game," explained Didier Deschamps. "Arsenal's midfield is technically very good. When their team has the ball, it's very dangerous, but when they don't have the ball, they find it harder going. If every player is near the top of their game, then the team plays better."