Match Preview: Arsenal v Standard de Liege (UCL)
Is this the year?
Now removed from two gut wrenching losses, Arsenal look to bounce back to their winning ways, by taking on Belgian champions, Standard de Liege for their first match in Champion’s League group stages.
Arsenal started off the season brightly with emphatic wins against Everton, Portsmouth and Celtic. But the last two matches haven’t gone to plan. Unfortunate goals against United and a game that fell apart on all ends against Manchester City sees the Gunners back on their heels as they travel to Maurice Dufrasne stadium.
Scoring goals for the Gunners hasn’t been an issue. In the EPL, the club is the top goal scoring side with 13 and in the Champion’s league they’ve already netted 5. What is an issue is what happens if Standard score an early goal. Given the way the two loses went down, can Arsenal refocus and come back if they go down one goal early.
As if Arsenal didn’t need more issues injuries are affecting the side Arsene Wenger can field today. Goal keeper Manuel Almunia is out with a “chest cold”. Robin Van Persie is out with a knee knock. And the usual cast of characters will be out – Nasri, Walcott, Arshavin and Fabianski. Dennilson is also out with a back injury which could mean a CL debut of Welsh starlet Aaron Ramsey.
Debutizing for the injured Almunia will be Vito Mannone. Mannone with one senior team start to his credit will be called on to add some solid work behind the back four of Gallas, Vermaelen, Sagna, and Clichy.
On the bright side, UEFA have rethought their ban of Croat/Brazilian Eduardo and he will likely start in place of van Persie. Look for him to provide a little more speed and creativity to the front and try and cause fits for the Standard defense.
Standard will look to do what Manchester City did this past weekend and play with a ruthless edge in the middle. The Belgian league leaders are currently on a 15 game unbeaten streak in their league and will use that confidence to fulfill their game plan. However, last year’s league champions have drawn 5 of their first six matches only managing their first win of the young season this past weekend.
The Belgians are not without their own woes, heartbeat of the club, Captain Steven Defour is out for up to 3 months with a broken foot. Additionally starters Wilifred Dalmat and Igor De Camargo could be out after picking up knocks in their last league match.
The last time these two sides met in 1993 Arsenal thrashed them for a 7-0 defeat. Arsenal will find that Standard has improved greatly since that meeting and find a win to be difficult. However, given the experience of Arsenal in the Champion’s League and the overall team quality it is expected that the Gunners should win this match. If not – than more questions about the Arsenal resolve will be raised.
Players to watch:
Arsenal: Eduardo. Simply put the man is going to be on a mission to prove his quality to the nay sayers.
Standard de Liege: Milan Jovanovic. The striker already has a hat trick this season. Like CR9 a free kick specialist.
Injuries:
Arsenal: Robin van Persie (kneecap), Denilson (sore back) and Manuel Almunia (chest infection), Andrei Arshavin (groin and knee), Theo Walcott (back), Samir Nasri (broken leg), Johan Djourou (knee surgery), Carlos Vela (ankle, foot), and Lukasz Fabianski (knee) are all on the sidelines
Standard de Liege: Cedric Collet, Steven Defour (broken foot) , Wilfried Dalmat (ankle), and Igor De Camargo (ankle)
Probable Starting XI:
Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Diaby, Fabregas, Rosicky, Song, Bendtner, Eduardo.
Standard de Liege: Bolat, Camozzato, Sarr, Mangala, Rocha, Dufer, Nicaise, De Camargo, Carcela-Gonzalez, Jovanovic, Mbokani.
Final tally:Standard 1
Arsenal 2
