At 19.45 this evening Arsenal will take to the field against Shakhtar Donetsk in an attempt to all-but-secure our progression into the first knockout round of the Champions League. We’ve collected six points from six available, as have Shakhtar, but our superior goal difference sees us sit top of the group. On the topic of goal differences, Arsenal currently have the best of any other team in the Champions League – scoring nine and conceding only one. While this doesn’t necessarily signify anything at such an early stage in the competition, it’s a decent record to protect – and it sends a message to all the other teams involved.
Arsčne Wenger has made it clear that we’ll need to play at the top of our game to see off the threat of Shakhtar and that they are our toughest opponents in the group. But while I agree that we shouldn’t underestimate Shakhtar, to gain anything other than three points tonight would be a massive underachievement. Shakhtar Donetsk are a powerful force in their own league but after travelling 1,692 miles to face a team that’s apparently fighting for Premier League and Champions League glory, they should be well-and-truly outclassed by whatever team Wenger fields.
At the time of writing, no official announcements have been made about who will be in the squad tonight. With Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen and Almunia still out of action, it’s fairly certain that our defence will consist of the same five players that faced Birmingham on Saturday. Fabianski had a decent game against the Bluenoses but the same can’t be said about Eboue, Djourou, Squillaci and Clichy – this is admittedly a temporary back line but we have to hope that the four of them have solidified since then. I’m terrified that this defence may be our only option when we travel to Eastlands next week, but a strong performance from them tonight will surely ease my nerves.
A question mark still hovers over the head of Cesc Fabregas’ participation at the moment and I can understand Wenger’s dilemma. If playing Fabregas tonight has any chance of affecting his participation against Manchester City next week – then he certainly shouldn’t be gambled upon. Having said that, if Fabregas is 100% fit and ready to play then the match against Shakhtar could be a good way to make sure he’s back in the flow of things for the vital game against the Citizens on Saturday. I’m aware that in football only one game should be considered at a time, but surely going all-out against Shakhtar is foolhardy if we leave ourselves lacking for the Premiership.
My guess at the team this evening: Fabianski, Eboue, Djourou, Squillaci, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Diaby, Rosicky, Arsharvin and Chamakh. That line-up could leave us with a pretty powerful looking bench (offensively at least) of Szczesny, Gibbs, Denilson, Fabregas, Nasri, Walcott and Bendtner. There’s a chance Vela will make the squad at the expense of one of those other names, but I get the feeling Wenger will want to give some playing time to Bendtner, Walcott and Fabregas.
Whatever line-up Wenger chooses though, I don’t think I’m being too optimistic by saying that Gooners should tonight be celebrating our virtual progression from the Champions League group stages for the 11th year running.
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