Champions League qualifiers

[Craig_H]

1st legs 16th/17th August
2nd legs 23rd/24th August

Tuesday 16th August
Arsenal v Udinese
BATE Borisov v SK Sturm Graz
FC Copenhagen v Plzen
FC Twente v Benfica
Lyon v Rubin Kazan

Wednesday 17th August
Bayern Munich v FC Zurich
Dinamo Zagreb v Malmo
Maccabi Haifa v Genk
Odense BK v Villarreal
Wisla Krakow v Apoel Nicosia


The obvious instinctive feeling is that it'd be funny as **** if Arsenal didnt qualify - but would it be best for us if they did have a long CL campaign?

Likewise with Spurs in the Eurodisney Cup.

[Shaggy]

Be even better if they had a long Europa League campaign

[Craig_H]

Do they definitely go into that, if they lose this tie then?

Wenger will just play his u12's in the europa cup though, wont he? And save his first team for the league.

[Shaggy]

I asked on here earlier and the consensus is they drop into the EL if they go out.

Go Udinese

[Shaggy]

Oh yeah, re this

Wenger will just play his u12's in the europa cup though, wont he? And save his first team for the league.

You might be right...although they're trophy-starved to such an extent, with such a pitiful European 'history', I imagine he'd come under pressure to play strong sides.

[Craig_H]

He's come under pressure to buy a proper a centre back/keeper for the last 4-5 years, and still hasnt

I dont think Wenger is the listening type

[Shaggy]

Fair point

It's win win really, but I instinctively want Udinese to win. As much as Arsenal are on the back foot, I don't see Udinese getting a result tonight.

Although I'm not so confident that I have Arsenal on my coupon tonight. Had them on initially and got rid

[wavydavy]

Let them stay in it. That's anything up to about an extra 10 or 12 full-on, competetive fixtures, half of them trekking across the continent, for Arsenal to negotiate. Could just be the difference needed this season to make them slip out of the top 4.

[Craig_H]

Fair point

It's win win really, but I instinctively want Udinese to win. As much as Arsenal are on the back foot, I don't see Udinese getting a result tonight.

Although I'm not so confident that I have Arsenal on my coupon tonight. Had them on initially and got rid

I do too

But then, we're playing them on Saturday - how often do Arsenal go 3 games without a win?

[anfieldanfield]

I think they will batter the Italians tonight.

[Craig_H]

Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Ramsey, Walcott, Rosicky, Gervinho, Chamakh

RvP suspended, Wilshere either still not fit, or being saved for the weekend.

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

BATE Borisov v Sturm Graz
FC Copenhagen v Plzen
Twente v Benfica
OB v Villarreal

What's the results craig, who you backed?

[Chazza]

Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Ramsey, Walcott, Rosicky, Gervinho, Chamakh

RvP suspended, Wilshere either still not fit, or being saved for the weekend.

Udinese line up

Adz77 Adam Digby
by JamesHorncastle
UDINESE (4-1-4-1) – Handanovic; Ekstrand, Benatia, Danilo, Neuton; Badu; Isla, Pinzi, Asamoah, Armero; Di Natale
2 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[Shaggy]

Di Natale must be about 35 by now.

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

Did Udinese sell Inlar to another Italian team? It was napoli,lazio or roma?