It’s all doom and gloom at Arsenal after defeat to Bradford in the Capital One Cup. Thankfully for The Gunners they have bigger fish to fry and the the looming Champions League draw, set for next Thursday (Dec 20), will refocus them on the positive elements of their season.
Arsenal may be lagging behind in the league but they have reached the Champions League knockout phase yet again – a feat that big spending Chelsea and Manchester City have failed to replicate.
So there is room for positivity, but a second place finish in Group B means that Arsenal will have a really tough game in the first knockout phase. Here’s a run down of who they could face.
Manchester City’s early demise in the CL has lent more weight to the idea that money can’t necessarily buy you instant success in the world’s biggest club competition. PSG have bought experienced European players but it’s hard to predict how they will get on. Still, you would ideally want to avoid them.
A boom and bust club, Malaga’s seemingly endless income stream has suddenly dried up but they have shown great form in Europe and will provide a really stern test to Arsenal. But it’s a winnable tie for Arsenal nevertheless.
Arsene Wenger’s relief at avoiding Real Madrid from this group will be tempered by the form of Borussia Dortmund. The performance against City at The Etihad was the best I have seen this season. They play with fluidity and completely without fear. They are serious contenders this season.
The Old Lady of Italian football is in the middle of a renaissance after several years in the wilderness. But with the quality of potential opposition on offer, this would represent one of the easier ties for Arsenal.
Always strong. They were desperately unlucky to lose to Chelsea in the CL last year. Never easy to face but they are particularly strong at the moment.
Forget Anyone But United. After being burnt too many times by the Catalans in recent times, Arsenal fans will surely be joining the ABB club before the draw next Thursday.
Arsenal are at 25/1 with William Hill to win The Champions League
So, Arsenal fans, who would you like to draw in the next round of the competition?
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phylgunner
Dec 13, 2012 at 9:05 am
Malaga, BD or Juventus will be nice!
Patrickfoo08
Dec 13, 2012 at 11:55 pm
Frankly any team we meet will be in better states than us unless asswanker get his ass working by signing some x factor player not some young player
Talkoftheterrace.net
Dec 15, 2012 at 1:59 am
All those sides there will dump Arsenal out, all the teams above play with passion and have leaders, unlike Arsenal, we reckon at http://www.talkoftheterrace.net that Wenger needs to go, he has gone stale at the club, what he done for Arsenal over the successful days was nothing short of brilliance, but Arsenal fans will never see that again under him. ‘Au Revoir’