Arsenal v FC Schalke 04; Champion’s League Match Preview
It’s been four days of reflection and self-flagellation by Arsenal fans. It’s been time to a review the remnants of an on field display that showed Arsenal lacking anything reminiscent of a competitive fire. Well, it’s time to put that aside. It’s Champion’s League and any lingering hangovers from the weekend will have dire consequences.
The team Arsenal face are not the usual group stage fare Arsenal are used to facing. It’s Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, or simply FC Schalke 04. They have an array of talent that will cause Arsenal no end of worries. And they are players that Arsenal and Arsenal fans may be quite familiar with.
Up front they have Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the man who is more and more replacing former Gunner, Robin Van Persie in the Dutch National Side. Schalke also feature – the Englishman who got away – Lewis Holtby. A lot has been mentioned of the growing presence of the youngster with dual English/German citizenry -what you should know is that like Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla he is quite flexible and has the ability to shoot with either foot. Finally, there is the dutch star Ibrahim Afellay, on loan from Barcelona and once linked with a move to the Emirates.
All in all, Schalke offer Arsenal one of their most stern tests for the group campaign. There may be some assurance to playing at home but Schalke are very comfortable on the road, having yet to lose when away from their home. However, Arsenal are an impressive run of their own, since losing to AC Milan at home in 2003, Arsenal have only lost twice at home in Champion’s League games.
Huntelaar is the most likely focal point, especially with concerns about Arsenal’s goal tending. Yes, I avoided saying defense because for the most part, the defense has been sound, it’s the keeper that keeps hearts in throats for 90 minutes. At the top of Schalke’s 4-2-3-1, Huntelaar is a predator in the box, who although slow has exceptional positional awareness, strength and the bane to all current Arsenal sides – excellent heading ability. Add to that his excellent link up play and you could see a very busy defense for Arsenal tonight.
The visitor’s attack will likely focus on getting the ball up to Huntelaar with support coming from the wide play of Afellay and Farfan. It could also come from one of Schalke’s unsung heroes like LB Christian Fuchs. Fuchs is deceivingly good and gets a lot of claim for being a rock in the Schalke defense. But he also is very good at getting forward. This will be a huge test for Carl Jenkinson who has been one of Arsenal’s most impressive and consistent surprises this season.
Still, Europe is friendly to Arsenal for the most part. Most everyone agrees that the current iterations of the side have seemed more at ease playing in Europe than in the Premier League as it fits their overall style of play. Lukas Podolski looks to have risen to the Champion’s League challenge quite well and has score goals in each of Arsenal’s group matches.
Podolski and Gervinho have seemed to go tit for tat in scoring in the Champion’s League this season offering Arsenal solid options up front. However, with Walcott AND Oxlade-Chamberlain out, the question remains who goes into the right wing.
John Cross of the Mirror reports that Aaron Ramsey could get that call with Francis Coquelin slotting in alongside Arteta and Cazorla. Additionally, Cross reports that Arsenal are likely to bench Giroud in favor of Gervinho playing in the false 9 role that has bore fruit whenever used.
Arsenal must move beyond the dismal display of the weekend. There is no sugarcoating it, the way they came out on the field and played for 90 minutes is one of the most lackluster performances of recent memory. A similar performance, at home and in Europe is only going to result in the din of the doom and gloom crowd to get louder (and rightly so.) Arsenal can ill-afford to present themselves in a similar manner tonight. Do it and they will have issues moving to the knock out stages for the 12th successive season.
How the match should play out:
Do not expect Schalke to be your typical visiting side and sit back and absorb an attack, they are coming in high off of a win over their biggest rival Dortmund. They also are aware of the perceptions of Arsenal’s “wobbly” defense. They will have a proper go at Arsenal and it hopefully will give Arsenal the chance to have the space they need to get some of their own chances. With space to operate we know what Cazorla can do. Schalke have been good going forward but the relative inexperience of some of their players could afford Cazorla opportunities to set the front line free. Overall, I think this is going to be a back and forth affair with the two teams I suspect to still get out of the group. Look for the draw.
Players to watch:
Arsenal: Lukas Podolski. His form in league has been alright (read average) but his play in the Champion’s League has been stellar. Consistently he has been one of Arsenal’s most threatening players in the Champion’s League, both on and off the ball.
Schalke: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. It could very well be an Arsenal shirt he is wearing come the turn of the year. And he will look to put the club to the sword to prove his value.
Projected Lineups:
Arsenal: Mannone; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Santos; Arteta, Coquelin, Cazorla; Podolski, Ramsey; Gervinho
Schalke: Unnerstall; Uchida, Matip, Höwedes, Fuchs; Höger, Neustadter; Farfan, Holtby. Afellay; Huntelaar
Arsenal Injuries and Suspensions:
Szczęsny (ankle) Fabiański (back) Walcott (lung) Gibbs (thigh) Diaby (thigh) Rosický (tendon) Oxlade-Chamberlain (hip)
Leading Scorers (UCL):
Arsenal: Gervinho 2, Podolski 2
Schalke: Huntelaar
Domestic Form (last 5)
Arsenal: WDLWL
Schalke: LDWWW
Head to Head Tournament Stats:
|
Arsenal |
Schalke 04 |
|
| Goals Scored |
5 |
4 |
| Attempts on Target |
9 |
11 |
| Attempts off Target |
8 |
27 |
| Corners |
13 |
14 |
| Offsides |
10 |
2 |
| Fouls Committed |
28 |
26 |
| Yellow Cards |
2 |
6 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
0 |
Match Official:
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (SWE)
Assistant referees: Mathias Klasenius (SWE), Daniel Wärnmark (SWE)
Additional assistant referees: Stefan Johannesson (SWE), Martin Strömbergsson (SWE)
Fourth official: Stefan Wittberg (SWE)
Gameday chat (BETA) is open – https://youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
Broadcast Information:
US: FoxSoccer.Tv 2:35 PM EST
UK: SkySports 4 1945 GMT
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Schalke 2
Manager’s Remarks:
Arsene Wenger:
We got over [Saturday’s defeat at Norwich City FC]. I expect us to respond in a strong way, because this team is very ambitious and wants to do well. The players were very disappointed but the only way to deal with it is to put it behind us and focus on Schalke. We have a good opportunity; since we won in Montpellier, our qualifying will depend on how well we do at home.
Schalke try to play good football and build from the back, like all German teams. They’ve just got a very good result in Dortmund; they’re a solid side with good organisation and up front they have [Klaas-Jan] Huntelaar and [Jefferson] Farfán, plus [Ibrahim] Afellay or [Julian] Draxler. They are dangerous on the counterattack.
The Champions League is always a bit cagey. You play against teams that are always well organised, can play good counterattacking football and are used to dominating games in their own championship. Teams do not only come to defend, they come to play their game; possession is much more even, which gives us more chances to score.
What is important is that we want the ball, we concentrate on the quality of our game, express our talent and enjoy playing. We must keep faith in our game. This team has a very strong ambition, and on the pitch we have the quality to justify that ambition. There’s still a lot more to come from this team
Huub Stevens:
The way they have played their home games, they have put lots of pressure on their opponents, and that’s what they will try again tomorrow. But we must focus on our own game and make sure we are prepared.
[Santi Cazorla] is a very good technical player. He has an excellent range of passes and he can control the game. He is very important for Arsenal. But it’s not only Cazorla, they have many good players – you cannot focus on only one.
If we can play against 80,000 in Dortmund then I think we can play here as well. There will be a lot of people in the stadium, but my players are professional and they have to be able to cope with that. This is the type of pressure that comes at the top and we must be prepared. We have 21 players in the squad here. I want to have a fresh team tomorrow. The players make it very difficult for me to choose, but that’s the situation and it’s not a problem.
I haven’t been here [at Arsenal] for a while. I was here ten years ago, when Wenger was already around. It’s amazing that a manager is at a club for such a long time, and he’s done an amazing job. I’m happy he’s still here and I’m looking forward to seeing him.
Match Facts:
- The teams met in the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League group stage, when the coaches were as they are today –Arsène Wenger and Huub Stevens. Arsenal won 3-2 at home but lost 3-1 in Gelsenkirchen.
- Arsenal are taking part in the group stage for the 15th campaign in a row. In 2011/12 Wenger’s side departed in the round of 16 for the second season running, having won four of their five home matches, play-offs included. It was the 12th successive time they had made it through the group and only the second campaign since 2006/07 that they had failed to reach the quarter-finals or better.
- Arsenal are unbeaten in 16 UEFA Champions League home matches, play-offs included, since a 3-1 reverse by Manchester United in the 2008/09 semi-finals. That is their only defeat in their last 44 home games in the competition, with the remaining matches yielding 33 victories and ten draws. Arsenal have not lost at home to non-English opposition in the competition in 45 games, since a 3-0 defeat by FC Internazionale Milano at Highbury in September 2003.
- Schalke are making their fifth UEFA Champions League appearance and when they were last involved, in 2010/11, they recovered from a 1-0 defeat at Olympique Lyonnais on matchday one to win seven of their next nine fixtures, with the other two drawn, before those two losses to Manchester United
All match statistics, manager quotes and facts courtesy UEFA Press Kit and UEFA.com
7 comments
Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I watched the game. I watched the Norwich game. Both were poor entertainment. Thankfully I had my iPad and could play games to fill in time.
I found myself being a little more upbeat at the start of the season (deep down we all want Arsenal to turn it around and win despite our fears), and yet… it looks like reality has overwhelmed any green shoots before they take root at all. The recent performances were withered. I told yah, no Diaby in the centre no incisive play and Cazorla’s influence declines. Giroud is struggling during his early months. Gervinho is essentially crap despite the random goal rush. Podolski is a finisher who seems to suffer badly when the play becomes pedestrian, he needs to be on the end of a rat a tat tat move – not a slow lethagic Ramsey muted lateral drone. Ramsey is a seriously bad fit in Wenger’s football, ditto Walcott. How can Wenger get this so wrong? Have to say, worryingly, that Oxlade-Chamberlain’s performances in an Arsenal shirt have been deflating this season. Is that just a blip, or is he going the way of the other British talents?
Once again we are getting the same mumbo jumbo, “we need a response”, “jaded”… we’ve been here before. Surely Wenger is as bored as the support-base?
Arthur, here in Spain it’s written (pronounced): “Guow,” with umlauts over the u…..Stag, I’m grateful for the lack of sarcasm in your response to the match–again, nothing over which to argue with you…. Even (occasional, long-time) poster US-G is doing the right thing, searching for perspective….Cheers to everyone….
For me, it was another terrible stream, and another terrible game and I actually shut my ‘puter down (when we were still drawing the match) to say goodnight to my kid, who had endured more swearing than is remotely appropriate from his papa. Afterwards, checking the scoreline (I actually got to “see” the second goal) I think I felt better. There will be no papering over THESE cracks. It cannot be denied Arsenal are in the crapper. At least season tix have already been paid for and scalped ones should be CHEAP for me by the time I get to London. I would like to see a match before the modern day Guy Fawkes-es blow up the stadium…..
That monument to Arsene and PHW and Stan (We Don’t Want His Sort) Kroenke will require high security today for the AGM. Maybe I can get a better stream for that meeting as it will certainly be more impassioned than what I saw last night–and likely far better television, as they say….What can Arsene/Gazidis/Kroenke possibly say?…..
Here’s what I say: Ground Hog’s Day has come early. October IS (by far) the easiest month we’ve got. We SHOULD have wrapped up the group last night AND be on a run of victories (and goal-fests) in the league, and looking forward to a few tasty Like-A-New-Signings working out the kinks in the Carling, er CapOne, Cup before riding in to support the new (overworked) boys in the first team. The AGM is not scheduled in the Spring anymore, and it’s not by coincidence. We were “supposed” to be riding a (relative) high, nicely positioned in our CL group, still “in” the domestic cups and within sniffing distance of the top of the league. Our Summer, after all, went much better this time round…..
But like Yogi says, it’s Deja Vu al over again….. We ALL see what’s happened to the club and Resignation (aka “Acceptance”) is a more appropriate place to be in the “Stages of Grief” we ALL are feeling. Nobody (at least around here, I’m pretty sure) is still paddling the river in Egypt…..Again, I particularly appreciate my buddy Stag getting past the Anger stage….
What is truly amazing is that, as sad as the whole spectacle of Arsenal is, the REST of the scene isn’t much better. It could be argued (and I’m sure Gazidis/Wenger/PHW will, Kroenke will remain silent….) that the club is pursuing a reasonable course given the madness all around. And, to an extent, they have a point. Building a big stadium and being financially responsible IS the way forward….Dortmund (after selling Kagawa and with Lewandowski/Gotze just waiting to be next summer’s RVP/Theo combo….) beat Real Madrid last night, while City lost at Ajax. The night before, Chelsea lost at Shaktar AND ManU and Barca had to come from behind (or leave it late) to eke out victories against the likes of Braga and Celtic. For all their spending, the “big” teams aren’t really very good these days. The competitive opportunity is out there, maybe, but everybody is too depressed (or too busy counting their money) to grab it. I’d be worried about QPR on the weekend (and I am) but even their (giant) squad of solid players can’t seem to be arsed….. Oligarchy, perhaps, isn’t as much fun as it seems….esp for the fans who bear the burden. The high price of tickets doesn’t equate to “real” value…..
Anyhow, that’s all I’ve got (for the moment)….let me know if anybody can find a (good) stream for the AGM…..
Site comments: Edit function? Any chance it might come back?…. Again, I like the black on white, and I’m grateful for the word-wrap in the reply box (or being able to at least see what I’m writing w/o having to hit return each line–a key element when there’s no edit function….Is there any way of setting up more convenient toggles to get here (to the comments section)? I guess you can pull up the current thread and then click comments to see what’s new, which seems an improvement…. Anyhow, the site seems to be moving a bit quicker for me, but that could just be from making my kid clean up his stuff in other parts of my machine. Sorry to be such a luddite, but anything that distracts from the product on the pitch, can’t be all bad (eh?). As always, I appreciate the effort….
Below is a link to an ESPN article about one of my new favorite players, FC Dallas backup goalkeeper Chris Seitz. I felt compelled to share it. It’s a great read and really puts things into perspective.
http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/8539079/how-fc-dallas-goalkeeper-chris-seitz-became-bone-marrow-donor-choices-faced-trying-help-save-life
Wow! Absolutely dreadful. Two games on the spin, utter impotence. Defensive stability seems to have been tempered by attacking deficiency. Oooh! to be a Gooner right now. Hopefully we will be back to our best fot sweet revenge in the second leg.
So.
Apparently Wenger made his CLASSIC statement before the Norwich match…
you know the one… “this is the moment of truth” for his beloved squad.
3 matches in a week… against the worst teams in the EPL (currently), and
home against Schalke in the CL.
LOSS @ Norwich, in the worst played much by Arsenal in recent memory.
Down 2-0 late to Schalke…
with QPR on the weekend.
Yawn. Tired. Same shit. Same non-sense. Same team. Same Wenger.
Same old Arsenal FC, from the past 8 years.
Want to know why comments are down… APATHY.
Nobody cares remotely as much when you are not good.
Nobody cares when the same thing happens over and over and over again.
We’ve seen this before. We’re watching the same season unfold again.
Is that good for you?
Is that acceptable, when the ticket prices are the highest in Europe?
Are you still buying that we are doing the right thing? We’ll be taking over
Europe once the FFP kicks in? That United are going bankrupt soon?
(how’s our best player doing over there? leads the league in goals? nice!)
it is beyond ridiculous.
I believe Arsenal have an annual meeting in a day or so… this is the one
where Wenger went on for an 11 minute ramble of bullshit last year, in
response to the fans expecting him to explain himself and the clubs utter
failure to compete on the pitch.
I hope the absolutely BASH away at the club and Wenger.
Not that it will matter to the Legions of Red Faithful, that will follow
like sheep… Arsenal good. Wenger god. Winning teams bad. Money spenders bad… football bad if we can’t win.
CONFIRMED ARSENAL XI: Mannone – Jenks – Mertesacker – Vermaelen – Santos – Arteta – Coquelin – Ramsey – Cazorla – Podolski – Gervinho
subs: Subs: Shea – Koscielny – Djourou – Gnabry – Giroud – Arshavin – Chamakh