Good morning,
another day another Arsenal match. Tonight we kick off our Champions League campaign with a trip to Belgium to play Standard Liege. Last time we played these chaps was in November 93 on the way to Paris 94 in the Cup Winner’s Cup and we spanked them 7-0 (including this goal by Eddie McGoldrick).
The team news is that Manuel Almunia (virus), Robin van Persie (knee) and Denilson (dyptheria maximus) do not make the trip. Neither has Theo Walcott returned in time to take part. The full squad is here. Almunia’s absence means young Italian, Vito Mannone, will do nets and the manager says:
It is a big challenge for the young boy to come into a Champions League game with such big pressure, but I am confident in him.
There are those who might suggest that Almunia’s virus is a “virus” and that he’s been dropped after his poor start to the season but no matter how out of form he’s been I can’t see the manager making a change like this unless it was absolutely necessary. If Fabianski were fit, maybe, but he’s not going to drop his first choice keeper for a rookie like the Italian. Mannone has only played one senior game for the club, against Stoke at the end of last season. I watched him pre-season in the Emirates Cup and I found him a bit scary, to be honest. Fingers crossed he can do the business tonight.
With Robin van Persie missing you have to think Nicklas Bendtner will be given a run in the central striking position with Eduardo one side of him and any one of Eboue, Diaby or even Jack Wilshere the other. I suspect the manager will go with the former. Youngster Sanchez Watt, possibly the best name of any Arsenal player since Lancelot McGillicuddy got a late cameo in the 1923 season, is on the bench and it’s a measure of his progress that he’s in the squad.
At the back I just about think the same back four will start although I wouldn’t be that shocked if Kieran Gibbs got a game at left back. That said I think he’d have been more likely to start if Almunia had been playing and I’m not sure I see the manager adding 40% inexperience to our defence. Gibbs and Mannone starting leaves us too raw.
In midfield I think it’ll be Song, Cesc and Diaby. While I’d like to see Tomas Rosicky start I think the manager is going to use him from the bench for the next little while.
I can’t say I know a great deal about Liege. On Twitter yesterday folks were reminding me how the Mugsmashers struggled against them last season but I don’t really recall. We could certainly do with a good performance and a good win tonight though. Not just to get ourselves back on track but add that bit of away from home belief. The two trips to Manchester might have been a bit demoralising and to go away in Europe and win help put things back on track.
We’re certainly not going there with our strongest squad so it’d be a good confidence boost to get the three points tonight.
Now, at his press conference yesterday Arsene Wenger was, of course, asked about the whole Emmanuel Adebayor thing. I know I said this would be an Adebayor free zone but the manager came out with a couple of absolute classics yesterday. When asked about the challege itself, he said:
Adebayor’s challenge on Van Persie looks very bad. You ask 100 people, 99 will say it’s very bad and the 100th will be Mark Hughes.
Heh and heh again. I know managers defend their players but Hughes has made a real chump of himself over this one, in my opinion. Then Arsene was asked about Robin van Persie’s statement in which he was hugely critical of his former teammate. He said:
If somebody stamps on your head in that way, you wouldn’t say, ‘thank you very much’ and turn the other cheek. Only Jesus Christ did that.
Brilliant. I love Arsene when he’s like that. He went on to talk about how he was ‘surprised and shocked’ by Adebayor’s behaviour and how he deserved to be charged for his actions. Again it’s strong stuff, normally Arsene is quite the diplomat and I suspect he feels a bit pissed upon by a guy who would be still kicking his heels in Ligue 1 if it weren’t for him. He treats players well, like adults, and it must hurt when you come across such an ungrateful, thankless turd like Adebayor.
As we know Adebayor has been charged with violent conduct, which will be a 3 match ban if found guilty, and improper conduct which could see anything between 1 and 3 games added to that. No less than he deserves in my opinion. Final word on this today goes to Goodplaya who has a nice perspective on it.
Anyway, enough of him. And more of … well … there’s not a great deal more of anything. Except for me to publicly declare war on Atletico Madrid who cost me the best part of €1000 last night by not beating Apoel Nicosia. I had successfully predicted the other 7 scores in last night’s Champions League games, including Juventus drawing with Bordeaux, and then these lazy-arsed mañana bastards can’t be bothered scoring even one goal. Gah.
Still, our Winter Astro season kicked off last night and we won 2-1 against a team of much younger, fitter and faster lads. We used our experience, and massive bulk, to kick off our season with a win. Hurrah! It’s all downhill from here.
My money tonight is on Eduardo bagging at least one in an Arsenal win. Safe and enjoyable trip to all those travelling.
Come on you reds!
Till tomorrow.
