Morning all.
The Champions League draw threw out a few tasty fixtures for the Premier League clubs, tough groups too for three of them. Man City are the ones you’d expect to top their group with relative ease but the rest, second spot at best I reckon.
Pochettino and his lot take on La Liga champions Barcelona, Inter Milan and PSV, in Group B. Klopp is up against Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade in Group C. Mourinho and his underachieving side face Juventus, Valencia and Young Boys whilst Guardiola and co should sail past Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon and Hoffenheim in Group F.
The harder the group and the further they all go is good for the rest of the clubs in the league as travel together with needing to field a strong team to ensure they make it out of the group stage, the more chance there is of fatigue and injuries kicking in and of course, it’s better that none drop into the Europa League. Am I bitter? No, not at all, but the more help we get in our fight to return to the top four the better.
For us and Chelsea, it’s the Europa League and the draw takes place around midday today. The two English clubs can’t be drawn in the same group of course but we could face either Rangers or Celtic. Burnley we’re knocked out last night and they must be kicking themselves as they really should have been in the draw today.
Who could we face?
POT 1
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Sevilla (ESP)
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Arsenal (ENG)
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Chelsea (ENG)
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Zenit (RUS)
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Leverkusen (GER)
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Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)
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Beşiktaş (TUR)
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Salzburg (AUT)
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Olympiacos (GRE)
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Villarreal (ESP)
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Anderlecht (BEL)
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Lazio (ITA)
POT 2
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Sporting CP (POR)
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Ludogorets (BUL)
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København (DEN)
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Marseille (FRA)
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Celtic (SCO)
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PAOK (GRE)
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Milan (ITA)
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Genk (BEL)
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Fenerbahçe (TUR)
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Krasnodar (RUS)
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Astana (KAZ)
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Rapid Wien (AUT)
POT 3
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Betis (ESP)
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BATE (BLR)
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Qarabağ (AZE)
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Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
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Leipzig (GER)
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Frankfurt (GER)
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Malmö (SWE)
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Spartak Moskva (RUS)
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Standard Liège (BEL)
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Zürich (SUI)
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Bordeaux (FRA)
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Rennes (FRA)
POT 4
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Apollon (CYP)
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Rosenborg (NOR)
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Vorskla (UKR)
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Slavia Praha (CZE)
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Akhisar (TUR)
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Jablonec (CZE)
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AEK Larnaca (CYP)
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Vidi (HUN)
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Rangers (SCO)
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Dudelange (LUX)
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Spartak Trnava (SVK)
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Sarpsborg (NOR)
Without being over confident, you’d have to fancy our chances of topping our group regardless of who we draw from pots 2 – 4. In fact apart from Chelsea there’s no reason to fear any side competing in this competition but even Chelsea are beatable over two legs should we meet in the knockout stages. Respect yes, fear, no. For both English clubs, it’s not perhaps about who we’re up against now, it’s who drops out of the Champions League, just as it was last season which is exactly why I hope all the so called better clubs in the Champions League progress into the knockout stages. It’s the only time I ever want them to win.
Ideally we’d be drawn in a group with three clubs based a short trip away, Denmark, France, Spain, Switzerland or Greece would be ideal. No Russia though, I hope we avoid a Russian club. That’s the kiss of death eh.
The EFL draw was kind to us though, on paper anyway with a home fixture against Championship club Brentford. Until we hear from Unai Emery though, it’s not yet known how he’ll approach this competition, a competition which Arsenal along with many other Premier League clubs have predominantly used squad/youth players in. It’s certainly a competition which until last season, Arsenal haven’t really taken too seriously for one reason or another. It’s a Cup Arsenal never managed to win under Arsene Wenger and it was the same in Europe. Nothing
I think I’m right in saying we managed just two finals in both (including Paris 2006) which is a really poor return, especially in Europe when one considers how many years we qualified to be in it.
Perhaps Unai Emery will change that abysmal record this time around. At least he knows what it takes to win in Europe….
Am I here on my lonesome?
Morning all.
Usain Bolt could’ve made a damn fine footballer if he’d played the game all his life, but he really is up against it, based on the 20 minutes I just watched.
Ge lacks fitness, admittedly, but his touch is heavy, he has little awareness and no idea how to time a run so I say Arsenal should sign him 🙂 🙂
Baku, which once was the world capital of the oil industry, is going to be an interesting destination for Arsenal. I’d imagine that there is an Arsenal Azeri supporters club so the locals will be excited…
Ukraine, the breadbasket of the old Soviet Union, another first time visit for Arsenal and there will no doubt be a Ukrainian Arsenal supporters club looking forward to our visit.
Finally Sporting, a team we beat 3-0 on aggregate on the way to winning this competition back in 1969-70 when it was the Inter Cities Fairs Cup. So maybe a good omen?
It’d be a bolt from the blue, if he signed for Arsenal!,
Afternoon al.
Sunny here, just like my jovial dispositions!
Sporting Lisbon are the only real opposition we have at this stage of the UEFA cup, imo.
Afternoon all!
Difficult challenge!
Sporting is better than us; Karabag, well, the final will be there, in Baku. So…
Ukraine team it’s an unknow, but all the Ukraine teams are very strange.
Finnally, I’ve watched the game versus West Ham because I was abroad.
We’re going to have a lot of creeps with this team.
Defending is a disgrace. Wey get three to the ball and the advanced opponent is in front of the goal.
As I said in previous comment, we left a lot of space between the midfield and the defense which is an invitation to the counterattack.
The first objective, will be to make the necessary points not to relegate; then you will see.
Has Ozil been sold?
Hi guys.
Not an easy group then?
Evening all and thanks Rico.
Easy group, no problem, we will be in the knockout stage, but as I said we would have to be at a low lower than ever under Wenger not to get out of a EL group !………….. I expect to always get out of CL groups so EL is a piece of piss !.
Lucky the gossip mongers had Nelson wrong, he has signed a new contract and he is a self confessed lover of Arsenal………………….best news of the day !
Same here Lc, really pleased he’s signed a new long term contract.
Under 23’s beat Totts too, missed another penalty though…
Oops !…………………..second best news of the day as beating Totnumb U21`s is best news of the day!
🙂
Arsenal have a lot of players called up for England youth teams so Checkatrade Cup/Trophy team could be weakened aparrently !
Mkhitaryan can’t play the away leg v Qarabag as Armenians are banned from Azerbaijan, and f we make the final, it’ll also be held in that country.
Sensational stuff in 2018 lol
yes, is the consequences of the conflict in Nagoro-Karabak.
The question is: why Azerbeijan play in the Europe Champions League/UEFA League Cup?
They are Europeans when it’s interesting for them: they are Asians when is own interest. It’s an Asian country or not? Why the Europeans must accept this resolution?
I repeat: the group it’s not easy. If we not win the 2 first games will be very complicate.
Finnaly, we defeatd the totts ! 🙂
How far we have declined, surely if they can,t top this group, they should be taken out individually and shot with their own balls of shite,
Excuse my profane language….but it,s true..
We will top the group and go through undefeated.
At least, we SHOULD 🙂
Morning people.
New post up now.