Highbury, Wednesday 20th September 2000
UEFA Champions League, stage 1 match 2
See below for report(s) by Paul, and our list of links to
reports on other sites.
and see also this newsreel piece.
Preview
- Arsenal team news
3 main worries: Adams, Parlour, and Dixon.
Adams faces a late test on a stiff back, and Dixon has a knee problem.
So Oleg Luzhny is likely to start in place of one of them.
Parlour was apparently in such discomfort against Coventry on Saturday that
they took the stitches out of his knee so he coul dmove more easily.
Parlour's absence will not be felt so much, hopefully, as Vieira
can play in central midfield and Ljungberg on the right. We could
also see 3 of the strikers play, with Bergkamp maybe behind Henry and Wiltord.
go well.
- Shakhtar_Donetsk team news
According to Oleg Luzhny, Shakhtar are "are a collective force
with no real superstars. That is their strength. They are a physical,
very fit side whose strength lies in attack. I would doubt they would
come to Highbury just to defend."
Luzhny lists 3 particular players as threats: midfielders Sergei
Popov and Hennadie Zubov and striker Andrei Vorobei.
29-yr old Popov is Shakhtar's captain and most-capped player (33). He
was in the Ukraine team at a time when it had 10 Dynamo Kiev players!
Vorobei is currently leading scorer in the Ukrainian league with 8 from
6 games. He scored the last-minute equaliser against Slavia Prague
which got them through qualifying to this stage of the CL.
Lazio coach Sven Goran Eriksson has said that despite their 3-0 win in the
Ukraine last week, Arsenal should be wary. "Shakhtar had their moments and
perhaps Arsenal should be aware of that"
The best Shakhtar have ever done in Europe was a Cup-Winners Cup quarter-final
in 1984.
- UK TV/Radio coverage
Live on ITV.
- See also
Highbury, Wednesday 20th September 2000
UEFA Champions League, stage 1 match 2
There's Only One Keown !
Wow, what a match ! How's everyone's blood pressure ? Mine has just about come
down to normal, whatever that is. If anyone needed proof of what home
advantage really means to a side, I think it was evident on Wednesday that
when the chips are down. Highbury is home, Wembley never was.
It was one of those games were you wondered whether the ball was ever going to
go in. The stats at the end made interesting reading. We had 31 (I think ?)
shots, 17 corners and we were losing for most of the match. Football is a
cruel games sometimes and I was really starting to feel the collective pain in
the Lower West stand with 85 minutes played. Then up comes our temporary no 9
(van) Keown and becomes the star of the show. We call him 'Van' in the Lower
West as he sometimes tries these fancy Berkgamp style flicks in his own half -
let's just say they sometimes work and sometimes they don't !
Martin Keown has always been one of my favourite Arsenal players. I remember
him when he first broke into the first team in the early 80's, playing
alongside 'Spider' O'Leary. I always thought him to be a better prospect than
Adams, as he was quicker and less vunerable to players who could turn quickly.
Unfortunately George Graham didn't think he was worth an extra £50 a week when
Martin asked for a raise and sold him to Villa. At least GG saw the error of
his ways and bought him back, and good job too. Apart from a tendency to dive
in a bit at times and get himself in trouble, he is an absolute rock for
Arsenal and his role for the side is overlooked. If Keegan selects Southgate
over Keown for the Germany World Cup qualifier, he needs his brains tested.
Oh, I nearly forgot, the way he got sent off for doing that complete idiot
Dominques (sp ?) of Spurs means he's adored by all of us !
I'm a little bit worried by Terry Henry at the moment. He looks a little bit
'flat' at the moment. He's going through one of these spells where he does
everything but score. It happens to the greatest Terry, don't let it get you
down. The crowd loves you, you will score a shedload this year, just make sure
you start soon ! I am impressed by Wiltord. He really is Ian WWW mkII. He
never stops working, chases lost causes. He was first in the box for the
penalty rebound on Wednesday and looks hungry. That could be a very good bit
of business by AW. Keep it up Sylvain, score against MoanU and you will become
an instant hero.
Wasn't it good to see Paddy V in top form. During the first half, he (and
NK25) held the whole side together. He was a man on a mission. Paddy, please,
please, please avoid getting injured or suspended for the rest of the season.
Without you we are not the same team.
What's happening with DB10 ? I can understand AW playing NK25 in front of the
non-flying Dutchman as he is the man in form. Kanu's skill in setting up Keown
for the winner on Wednesday was unbelievable, the guy is absolute genius. If
he had scored after beating most of the defence in that mazy run, it would
have been goal of the season. DB has to respond positively. Kanu has
sacrificed an Olympic medal to play for Arsenal. The Olympic Football may not
mean much to me and you, but in countries like Nigeria, it is a great honour
and priviledge to represent your country in such an event. When we first
signed Kanu, I knew the intention was that he was DB10's eventual replacement
I sincerely hope that he is able to get his private life sorted (ie. His
family visa problems) so he can become a long term Arsenal superstar.
However much we talk about the superstars like Terry H and Kanu, let's not
forget the Keown's, Grimandi's and co of this world who do all the dirty work,
and sometimes save our bacon. As I said last week, the spirit in the team this
season looks good, much better than last year. Martin was right, it was a good
thing that Petit and Overmars left if they were damaging the morale of the
dressing room. We are better off without players with that sort of attitude,
no matter how good they are.
Good luck against Ipswich lads, and get fit soon M.Pires !
Keep the faith !
Paul
Other reports
Your reports
- Please note that any website can get its match report(s) listed on these
pages, simply by
emailing us
the URL.
- We will go looking for reports, but none are guaranteed to make
it into the list unless emailed to us.
- Also, URLs which are emailed
to us will head to the top of the list (after links to AFCi and Arseweb's
newsreel report).
- Reports for publication on this page from Arsenal fans are always welcomed (as are any
features/stories/whatever that you'd like to see published on ArseWeb).
Useful links for armchair fans
Useful links for swivel-chair fans
- Arsenal Live. getting commentary
on your computer, IRC, Real Audio, etc.
- Note also that often there will be an audio feed available
from the opposition's website (most probably their official site).
Useful links for travelling fans
- ArseWeb's highbury pages, including ticket info, getting to the ground, etc.
- AwayFans.co.uk. Stadium reviews and info. Maps, traffic reports, pub lists, info on disabled/wheelchair provisions, etc. Conference teams as well as Premiership and Nationwide.
- London football Arsenal page from
a site focussing on info for fans from abroad wanting to get to matches (tickets,
travel, accomodation, etc).
- From the Terrace. Each team's section includes a page on their ground, with directions. Premiership, Nationwide, and Scottish.
- AwayGuide.net. Directions, maps, pub guides. All Premiership and Nationwide league teams.
- Football Ground Guide. Lovely site, loads of info, pics, diagrams, etc
- Football Grounds of England. With capacities, record gates, and pictures.
- Football Grounds frenzy. Wonderful photos of football grounds, with a little info too. Everything apart from
glitzy new grounds, and no Premiership ones. Might be handy for Cup games, and
certainly nice to look at!
- FanZone.
Information for travelling sports fans. directions, car parks, eateries,
pubs, blah-de-blah....
- Our own Highbury pages for useful info for Arsenal's home games.
|