No Draws Please – we are Arsenal. Squad for Porto

The Coach
By Boris Mellor
December 5 2006

Wenger is stressing how important it is that Arsenal should not go to Porto with the mentality that a draw will do. No doubt Arsenal fans remember the hair raising second leg at Villarreal where the team seemed to settle for a draw. I can’t remember us having a shot that day.

 Wenger insisted he told the team to play for a win, but the team claims he told them to play for a draw, concede a late penalty, but not to worry because Jens would save it. Wenger has since pointed out that the Gunners didn’t play to win that day, fortunately they remembered to play not to lose (only just).

 

The group this year has proved far tougher than last years, and on the final match day any of three teams can go through, or go out. Would be a great day for Hamburg to finally win at last. Problem with that is that the burgers cannot even get a consolation place in the Euro Vase, but come on lads there is your pride to play for.

 

It is very difficult to preview these matches without knowing the final team. We know that Henry is suspended, and unavailable, also Gallas, and Rosicky are out. Apart from the long term injuries everyone else should be available.

 

Wenger can pick from 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 as he has the personnel available. In many ways Adebayor could make a better leader of the line than Henry in this situation; and if Freddy can reproduce his form of Saturday then he and Hleb should balance out the midfield.

 

One question is Senderos or Djourou to partner Toure; except in Europe it’s not such a big question.  I am sure that either of them can do a good job, and maybe Wenger will have an eye on the Chelsea game. Although there was talk of Billy G being available by then.

 

Porto will be a far tougher proposition at home than they were at Arsenal. Also they will be buoyed by their victory in Moscow. Don’t forget to enter your prediction on the table.

 

Squad that will travel:

 

Jens Lehmann
Cesc Fabregas
Kolo Toure
Philippe Senderos
Fredrik Ljungberg
Julio Baptista
Robin van Persie
Alexander Hleb
Mathieu Flamini
Gilberto
Johan Djourou
Gael Clichy
Manuel Almunia
Emmanuel Adebayor

Emmanuel Eboue
Jeremie Aliadiere
Justin Hoyte
Theo Walcott