Arsenal take on Udinese tonight at 1845 GMT at the Stadio Fruilli in Udine,Italy.This game has assumed epic proportions because of the circumstances surrounding it.This could be make or break time for Arsenal's beleaguered manager Arsene Wenger,whose pig-headedness could hurl Arsenal down a downward chasm from which return might just be nigh impossible!!.
This summer has been a crazy one in which to be an Arsenal fan.Erstwhile captain Cesc Fabregas spent the entire summer being chased by boyhood club Barcelona and finally joined them in a deal far less than Arsene had been holding out for.Only today,Samir Nasri has joined nouveau riche Manchester City and Arsenal's squad is looking pretty thin for this all important game.The worst part has been the French gaffer's refusal to spend.For six years now Arsenal has failed to win a trophy and every summer the fans have been fed the same crap by Wenger who gets a couple of £1m kids to pacify them and then go on to watch the team choke in exactly the same manner as the previous season.This summer was supposed to be different:even if the club was cash-strapped,which is a BIG IF,money has been raised from the Fabregas and now Nasri sales and someone should have been brought.Instead,the depature of this reliable players have been matched by the purchases of two kids and Gervinho,with obvious gaps incentral defence and defensive midfield yet to be filled.See,the old man made me digress.
I could go on and on about Arsene Wenger but that is not the purpose of this piece.Arsenal shaded the 1st leg 1-0 in a game which frankly,they should have lost and this 2nd leg is by no means going to be a straight forward affair.The Fruilli is not a friendly place to go to,and the Italian side will no doubt smell blood on Arsenal and will try to go in for the kill.Francesco Guidolin is an astute tactician and will set his side up the only he knows to,full blooded attack.Arsenal will no doubt have to show defensive solidity which they have never possesed if they are to survive this tie.Fortunately for them,they are very good at controlling possession and if they do that they will throw Udine off-balance.
Its going to be a very cagey affair tonight,however I fancy Arsenal to go through.Wenger(who I like to call Mr Bean),has lead his side to 13 consecutive group stage berths and I expect the trend to continue.
PREDICTION:UDINESE 1-1 ARSENAL
DID YOU KNOW?
#Arsenal will be hoping to end a rotten run of form on its travels in Wednesday’s match, as it has lost its last three Champions League matches away from home.
#Udinese boss Francesco Guidolin boasts an impressive record when he has faced English opposition in Italy. He has only lost once in four matches, winning two and drawing the other.
#Arsenal and Udinese had never faced each other in any UEFA competition prior to last Tuesday’s encounter.
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