We welcome Shakhtar Donetsk to Arsenal tonight in the Champions League. A fixture that I predicted prior to the groups being drawn. It always happens you always get drawn against your old players. It just seems to happen.
Reading several articles covering interviews with Dudu and drawing from pieces I've written myself its clear to see Dudu has some unfinished business with Arsenal. But for his injury he could have really stepped up. Playing regular before his injury he was excellent. A great player but in a true testament to how an injury can disrupt your career, he was out for 18months with the injury, rehabilitation and related injuries on his return. When he was able to return to the first-team fold his path back into the starting line up was blocked by the 4-2-3-1 formation which didn't suit him at all.
Eduardo is a 30 yard, tricky striker, he'll never do anyone for pace but he'll trick you to death and get a shot on target. His composure when on goal was excellent as was his finishing 1v1. He also fitted in well into the Arsenal way of playing with the exception that he liked to take a shot once in a while.
I'm really looking forward to tonights game. I think it will be a good test for us. News is Cesc is fit and raring to go, but Wenger might save him for the weekend. With my contacts(lenses), its my understanding(guess) that Cesc will be benched and brought on when required - perhaps give him 15 minutes at the end if we are clear. That would certainly make sense with regards to the super sunday afternoon fixture against Citeh. Walcott is also set for a return though again I expect bench action with Bendtner perhaps replacing Chamakh to give him a well earned rest. The rest of the team picks itself and we should see a similar line up to the weekend, save perhaps Arshavin who may be rested.
Lets all cheer our boys on to get three points and that will really cement our qualification into the next round. I'm not concerned about qualifying really, but we need a good 3 pointer against Shakhtar to help keep us as group leaders. So come on boys, nail them 3 or 4 to 1 and our goal difference will surely benefit, although its not bad already.
Be patient, be creative and just enjoy it. We should get the points if we follow those three points. Shakhtar don't concede many so we need to be patient and keep going at them whilst being sensible at the back.
Bring on 7:45!!
WG
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