Arsenal to face Champions League knock out versus Partizan Belgrade
Arsenal's Champions League rollercoaster ride has put them in a precarious position, a position which makes them susceptible to being knocked out of the Champions League knockout round, and the fact that Arsenal have cornered themselves in a position like
this will not sit down well with Arsene Wenger.
But, everyone knows that a cornered animal is always the most dangerous one too. And lets hope, for Arsenal's sake, that this is the case here too. Arsenal definitely need a win to guarantee qualification out of the group stages. A group that has become
one of the tightest of all where three teams could all yet qualify. Shaktar sit in pole position with 12 points, Arsenal and Braga are second and third respectively with 9 points each and Partizan are last with no points out of the five previous match days.
So, Arsenal effectively need to match Braga's result, and if Braga win their match then anything other than an Arsenal win will spell the end of one of the big clubs' European journey. Arsenal stormed to three consecutive wins in the competition against
Braga, Partizan Belgrade and Shaktar which include massive wins with score lines like 6-0 and 5-1. But since then, Arsenal have hit an iceberg head-on and have sunk to two defeats away to Shaktar and Braga which have made this last match a decider.
This match will not be underestimated by Arsene Wenger, who will have studied every facet of the current predicament his team find themselves in. For Arsenal cannot afford to get complacent or over-confident, a cup disaster could do much harm in the way
of destroying morale and confidence and that is something Arsenal need every bit of to keep their challenge in the Premier League going.
In the group however, if Arsenal fail to win and if Braga lose to Shaktar then Arsenal will qualify. And if Arsenal win and Braga win too then Arsenal could qualify as top dogs, and Wenger will be hoping for that considering the kind of teams that have finished
top. By finishing top he would want to avoid the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and of course Barcelona. Barcelona, the team he yesterday branded as 'super-favourites' to win this year's competition, judging by the way they so effortlessly dismantled
a high flying Real Madrid 5-0 at the Nou Camp. But, finishing top remains a high improbability considering Shaktar's impressive home form in the Champions League this season.
Wenger's sole concern however will be to qualify and to qualify he needs to have his best players available. Laurent Koscielny returns to the side after he was left unconscious in the game against Fulham four days ago where he collided with Squillaci's head.
Fabregas though remains unfit and that is a worry Samir Nasri has helped to quell, with the Frenchman in tantalizing form. Robin Van Persie could return to attack to add some much needed creativity alongside the one-dimensional Marouane Chamakh. Arshavin,
Wilshere, Song, Squilacci, Clichy, Sagna and Fabianski should start as usual.
So, Arsenal's Champions League group stages journey has boiled down to this one delicate moment. A match that can make or break Arsenal's season, a moment that holds the key to Arsenal's chances of progression. And Arsene Wenger will look to have that moment
completely under his singular control, let’s hope the players are on song and in tune with him too.
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