Champions League Test Awaits Arsenal
Aug 28th, 2008 by 'holic
Let’s say first of all that we avoided the toughest group of them all. That was always going to be decided by where Zenit St Petersburg were drawn from pot three, and thankfully Real Madrid and Juventus drew the short straw.
Those who are predicting an easy passage are wide of the mark, however. I think we can make a case for being in the second toughest of them all, and we couldn’t have been asked to travel further in our three away games, something that was not lost on Danny Fiszman.
“One of the big issues for Arsene is the distances we have to travel. They are long trips and that’s the most disappointing aspect of the draw.”
I have personal experience of a trip to Fenerbahce, having made the trip to Istanbul for a goal-less game on our way to the 1980 European Cup-Winners Cup Final. There is no doubt this is an intimidating venue, and in last season’s Champions League the Turks racked up a one hundred percent home record, beating Anderlecht, Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow, and of course Chelsea.
We have more recent experience of Dynamo Kiev who defeated the invincibles 2-1 in 2003/4. Our record in the old Soviet States is a cause for concern, but at least we will avoid the worst of the weather as we are in the Ukraine first on 17th September.
Add to that potent duo the 2004 Champions, FC Porto, and the full extent of the Gunners task becomes clearer. Don’t misunderstand the warning. We should qualify by beating all three teams at home and pinching a point or two on the road, but this will not be the stroll that some have suggested.
I’m sure Arsene Wenger will have checked the fixtures that follow those three long away trips. Less than three days after Kiev we are in the north-west against Bolton. We get a five day respite after the trip to Turkey before a short drive to Upton Park, but again less than three days separate the game in Portugal from a trip to Middlesbrough. In that respect the draw could also impact our Premiership ambitions.
The depth of the squad will be tested by those two trips to the north hot on the heels of what are likely to be full-blooded Champions League contests. That’s another reason we should perhaps be looking to add some experience to the club before Monday’s transfer deadline.
31 Responses to “Champions League Test Awaits Arsenal”
No Drinls?
Bushmills for me, thanks.
FUCK ME!
I tried to type Drinks three times, every time I saw that I had typed Drinls, I pressed backspace….and typed ‘l’ again.
I promise I entered this establishment totally sober.
It’s the fumes, Ollie 😀
Very good analysis of the draw too. I shall stay here a bit longer.
Ollie is pissed already.
Kronenbourg please!
JW Red for me please! BTW, great analysis but I think we made out pretty good. If Arsene will splash some cash for the midfield and get a ball stopper for the back, we should make out ok.
Is my shot on the honors or must I hand over the plastic?
maybe liverpool is harder then ours? i reckin were in third hardest group – but im prob splitting hairs
Lone Star, just leave me your bank account details and I’ll make sure you get your share of this weeks seventy million pound jackpot in the Euro Lottery, sponsored by Goonerholic.
🙂
For the transfers being discussed today: I like the de Guzman idea, but we also need someone older with a bit more experience. De Guzman is only 20. What happened to the Torsten Frings talk? He is over 30 so he won’t be around more than 2 years, won’t get in the way of the development of younger players, and plays with a high level of energy and nastiness, more so than the placid Gilberto. 2 midfielders in that spot would not be too many, given the volume and frequency of matches, including poorly timed World Cup qualifiers and meaningless friendlies this season.
You could have got a round in Ollie you tight git.
Half please ‘holic
*buys a round for everyone*
Mine’s a million pints of Staropramen.
Yours are on the house big man…
What a party! Three cheers for the ‘keep and a round of Texas’ best for all patrons, please. ‘Holic, please just put it on my tab 😉
Seriously, for just a minute, I’ve been reading a fair bit of trade rumors – the Marseilles kid, but nothing for upfront. I’m weary of our captain and Ade isn’t exactly living up to the 80k/ week salary.
What’s Arsene’s email? He should be careful not to follow the path of our Mack Brown (Texas Longhorns head coach) – it’s too long a story for me to tell on two drinks only…
I fell to the ground and I could not get up,
After drinking a pint of the Johnny Jump Up.
`holic when are you going to apply for a late licence.
As Steve Maclaren would say, ” pisshed.”
Gnight.
staropramen???
Leave it to blogger to request an esoterica Prague brew.
I’ll just have a long island ice tea please.
looking forward to the arsecast in the morning and a new signing on the way.
HALLELUJAH…………………………….OR NOT????????????
At last a definitive unequivocal statement about the club’s finances and funds available to purchase players from Danny Fiszman.
Am I just a cynical old bastard, or does the timing of this announcement just 3 days before the transfer window closes seem rather suspicious.
The club have had all summer to reassure us that we could afford the new players we need. Now if a transfer/transfers doesn’t happen, we will probably be told that we ran out of time……..
As usual, I hope I’m wrong, but this latest announcement only serves to fuel my increasing frustration over our summer dealings.
As far as the team goes, we know we have to get behind the boys now, but I had some sympathy with a chant on wednesday to the effect that Ade had f****d our summer up. That’s certainly the way I feel and no-one has pointed out that he did absolutely nothing when he came on. At least Bendtner put himself in positions where he could have done some damage had his touch been better.
Your flask of Marlon’s ready, ‘holic. Just a bottle of San Miguel today, ta.
So it’s just Kiev that we won’t have Dennis for.
What?
Oh.
Rasputin – I was at the game on Wednesday and I think that chant was a dig at Steve McClaren for failing to get England to Euro 2008 rather than being aimed at Ade.
He doesn’t look himself at the moment, but he wasn’t totally anonymous and played a big part in Bendtner’s goal. Hopefully he can break his duck tomorrow (and spare us the badge kissing!).
Morning Gents, (gonko – you’re a nut! ;)) as I prepare to shake off the cobwebs with my starfish and coffee – maple syrup and jam – I look on the transfer wires to find… wait for it… bubkes, nada, nothing more than mindless drivel regarding 30 million to spend.
Spend it, already. Else shut the hell up, and let me get ready to support the boys as we take on another tough campaign with one hand tied behind our backs.
Anyway, I got a full bottle GJ (it goes well with coffee -tea, not so much), all are welcome to a glass! First pour to the ‘holic.
Johnny Jump Up!… Ha! 😉
Could I have a kir please, ‘holic. The wine is not yet chilled.
Mike – thanks for the response. I hope Ade does well for us in every game all season.
I remember watching clips of Ade when it was rumoured that we were going to buy him and his style of play (effective but not pleasing on the eye) was the same then as it is now. He’s a handful for defenders but is not IMO a natural goalscorer – more of a blunt instrument! Which is why I can’t quite understand the reasoning that we can have a player whose main attribute is physical presence in the forward line but don’t appear to want one in CD or DM.
Following on with the DM debate and just fantasising – wouldn’t it have been great to have seen Vieira next to the present day Fab. I was/am a huge fan of Vieira and used to love to watch him standing imperiously in the tunnel waiting to lead the team out. He’d be holding a small childs hand as if butter wouldn’t melt but to his side would be the oppositions captain glancing nervously across knowing that he was going to get his ass soundly kicked by the big man.
We let him go at the right time, but what a great captain he was for our side.
Evening.
Viera`a first game for Arsenal was incredible.We had been struggling,didnt seem to have a midfield player who could pass the ball more than ten yardsIt was a tuesday night(pissing down with rain).Sheffield Wed.were a goal up and we were playing crap.Viera came on as sub and within five minutes you knew you were seeing someone special.
My special memory was Ian Wright scoring from a pass by Patrick and leaping into the startled young Frenchman`s arms.
We went on to win 4-1.
The start of the great Wenger era had begun.
Make no mistake Viera was a phenomenon.
One of Highbury`s special nights.
A GREAT PLAYER.
I still think the Viera Petit midfield partnership was one of the best I have ever seen.I dont say that lightly.
They had the lot.
Rasputin
Good point, we hear a lot about Ade being a handful for defenders – so why should our defence be so unprepared??
Unless we’re always gonna score more goals than the others!!!
That must be the master plan.
peaches
Didn’t Kevin Keegan try that attack, attack, attack strategy – failed I seem to remember!
I know you’re not seriously advocating such a policy. Isn’t it true though that the best 11 players don’t always make the best team. Witness England at the moment. Sometimes the chemistry is discovered by mistake or circumstance and the best managers recognise this and follow their instincts. I think the most successful teams are those that blend skill and creativity with muscle and have the desire and stamina to deliver those in equal measure.
Gonko –
Thanks for the lesson on Viera. Not to ever start the “best of -” debates, but it’s good to give him some credit. He doesn’t get nearly enough.
Hmm, methinks Ade, Diaby or Eboue will one day get that type of remembrance… no, wait that was the whiskey talking! BTW, it was always Arsene’s masterplan to OUTscore the opposition… no wait, that was the whiskey too 😉
I’m buying a round for Mr. Viera’s honor.
Rasputin
I agree entirely, a team is a team and sometimes its the sum of their parts that makes the chemistry work. So who’s the bad apple – or bad apples – that are stopping this team from being breathtakingly – I’m a girl I can say that – wonderful to watch. In fact who’s the weakest link!!!!
I was being facetious everyone – even girls know we have to score more than the other team!!!