It’s almost easy to forget, with all the other news flying around at the moment, that we begin our Champions League campaign tonight.
The big team news is that Manuel Almunia is to miss out due to a chest infection. Vito Mannone looks set to fill in, and anyone who saw his rather shaky performances in the Emirates Cup in pre-season will realise this is potentially a big problem. Just two weeks ago I said regarding our goalkeeping situation: “As for back up I feel we could do slightly better, with perhaps a more experienced reserve goalie, but success can come down to luck and how often we need to call on our back up in this position.” Not a good start on that front then. Let’s hope the young Italian is not tested too much.
There are suggestions (completely without substance) that Almunia has been dropped but surely Wenger wouldn’t do this and throw such an inexperienced goalkeeper into action. Then again he did drop Lehmann a few years ago and if you are hoping to give your number 1 a kick up the bum and take a chance in a Champions League group game then the first one is probably the best time to do it. Regardless there is nothing to suggest this is the case.
Robin van Persie and Denilson are also out, but could be back for Saturday.
So we are likely to line up with the same back four of Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen and Clichy, who will be looking to put Saturday’s horror show behind him.
In midfield Cesc and Song are certainties, most probably joined by either Diaby or Eboue, with the odd one out of those two joining Eduardo and Bendtner in attack. Rosicky, despite looking sharp on Saturday, is likely to be on the bench as Wenger eases him back in. Good to see Wilshere and Sanchez Watty Watt on the bench.
Anyone who saw Liege’s games against Liverpool last year, in which they were narrowly beaten 1-0 on aggregate, will know this will be far from easy. Add our goalkeeping issue and general shaky defensive performances so far and we could be in for a tough night.
In my squad overview, that I quoted from above, I made numerous references to injuries and luck with injuries playing a big part in our season. With an injury list comprising Robin van Persie, Denilson, Almunia, Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri, Andrey Arshavin, Lukasz Fabianski, Johan Djourou and Carlos Vela, things have not started well on that front at all. Quite possibly the first six of those would be in the team if fit so we will do very well to get a result tonight. We shall see…
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