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The Arse v Standard Liege: Preview
The Arse v Standard Liege: Preview
Tuesday, 24th Nov 2009 13:47

We struck late to secure a dramatic comeback in Liege back in September and the same opponents now stand in the way of another successfully negotiated Champions League group stage.

Standard played some slick football when they surged into a 2-0 lead in the opening match of group H but their attacking style should enable us to pick them off at the Grove tonight. The players received some rare public criticism from Wenger following the non-performance at the Stadium of Light and will be expected to respond with a win and ensure qualification to the knock-out stages as group winners. This will not automatically mean that we avoid Europe’s big names, with Barcelona in particular heading for a second placed finish, but it means we can progress with no regrets.

Kieran Gibbs makes an early return from injury and will presumably replace Armand Traore, despite his decent display at the weekend. Eboue may also be preferred to Bacary Sagna for the other full back position and Alex Song could be rested in midfield ahead of the meeting with a physically imposing Chelsea side. Denilson is ready to deputise but Wenger may be reluctant to rest any more key players as anything less than a win will mean he has to play a full strength side in Greece for the final group game in December.

The loss of Bendtner, van Persie and Diaby to injury means that we lack physical strength, particularly going forward, this shouldn’t be a problem tonight but Wenger will hope that our diminutive players find a greater understanding before they attempt to break down the might of Chelsea without an outfield player over six feet tall.

A player who will be hoping to prove that size doesn’t matter will be Theo Walcott who irritated the manager with his determination to play in the England U21 team during the summer’s European Championship. Theo has since spent the majority of his time in the treatment room, but since returning from injury on Saturday there has inevitably been talk of his possible inclusion in the England squad for the World Cup and it is a subject that has irritated the manager who lowered his impeccable manners especially for The Sun:

"For f***'s sake the World Cup is in June. Is he on holiday until June 11? You cannot be serious. For me, the big season is with Arsenal, not at the World Cup.

"We do not pay players to go to the World Cup, we pay the players to do well for Arsenal.�

Walcott is rumoured to be in line to join the short Arse attack tonight and will be desperate to do well. Home Champions League fixtures have suited Theo in the past and European opponents appear to struggle more with his pace than those in the Premier League. It is this trait that will ensure his seat on the plane to South Africa, injury permitting, no matter what his form this season so as Wenger puts it, ‘the big season is with Arsenal’.

Photo: Action Images



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