Okay, That's Cool
With both European competitions now set for the group stages, we thought we’d collect some rapid-fire prognostication and coverage, beginning with the Champions League.
Oh, who am I kidding: we’ll likely begin and end with the CL, the Big Cup, the Apple of Michel Platini’s eye. As such, consider these our knee-jerk reactions before things get underway in a few short weeks’ time.
Now, we shift to Group H…
Drawn From Pot 1 — Arsenal
Clearly the group favorites, Arsenal should be in good shape as, before the draw, there’s not a single team in their group you would have looked at and said, ‘That’s the team from their pot you want to avoid.’
The Gunners should cruise at home in the group stages as their annual injury onslaught won’t take full effect until after the new year. The travel schedule isn’t great though; trips to Eastern European outposts in the Ukraine and Serbia are never cakewalks but even with the odd slip here or there, there’s (almost) no way the Gunners don’t finish better than two of the teams here and advance.
Drawn from Pot 2 — Shakhtar Donetsk
So the bad news. Arsenal has already hosted Shakhtar Donetsk and lost 3-1 due in large part to a F**k-You-Brace from Brazilian Douglas Costa.
And you have no recollection of it? Hey, isn’t it fun when two teams from different leagues have the same name? Yes, it is fun.
But that’s Arsenal Kiev, and Arsenal Kiev kinda blows. Shakhtar Donetsk, on the other hand, is no pushover. They still have much of the core of the side that won the last edition of the UEFA Cup in 2009. And they are already in good shape on their drive for a domestic three-peat as, through eight matches, they sit top the table on 22 points (7-1-0) and a +13 GD.
And with the Crozillian Eduardo playing for Shakhtar, he is a lock to score against his former club at least once in both matches. That gives the Ukrainians a good shot of picking up full points against at home against the group favorites and should go a long way to helping them as they fight for second place and passage to the second round.
Drawn From Pot 3 — Sporting de Braga
And now this is just getting silly because Braga is sometimes known as the Arsenalistas, after, you guessed it… Take it away, Wikipedia:
“Braga… have been known as Arsenal do Minho and changed their kits from green-and-white hoops to their Arsenal-style red in 1920 when their then-coach Jozef Szabo, following a trip to England and Highbury, ordered the club to adopt new colours to establish their own identity (Braga even renamed their youth team Arsenal do Braga).”
I have no idea how taking another club’s colors (oops… colours) helps someone establish an identity, but there you are.
What does give Braga some uniqueness? Their stadium. Holy cow is it awesome. It’s not crocodile awesome, but that’s just theory. This is real. Know as the Quarry, it’s built into the side of a cliff.
Having knocked off both Celtic and Sevilla to secure their spot in the groups, this is another side that is going to be tricky for anyone to play. They’ve got decent speed out wide and they counter really well.
Drawn From Pot 4 — FK Partizan
I would be lying if I said I’ve ever seen Partizan play. They do have a cool crest though.
And they also give some literal heft to the phrase “lucky to be here.”
At about the two minute mark Anderlecht seemed to score what should have been the decisive goal (or at least one to give them a 5-4 lead on aggregate), only to have it waved off. And waved off incorrectly (at least to my eye) as the play looked onside. Hilarity ensues for Anderlecht in penalties as Partizan won the shootout after the tie finished level.
Group Predictions:
1) Arsenal
2) Braga
3) Shaktar Donetsk
4) FK Partizan
Arsenal win the group, but don’t cruise without a hiccup or two. I actually think away to Braga is going to be every bit as difficult as away to Shakhtar Donetsk. The Gunners haven’t fared well in Portugal in the Champions League as of late, losing their last two matches in outer Iberia. So another road loss would be a completely reasonable result.
Still with full points at home and two wins over Partizan, it’s theirs for the taking. Braga second on GD.
Arsenal going through should be a foregone conclusion; however, one worry could be hiccups a la 2007-08, when Sevilla won the group because Arsenal dropped silly points to Slavia Prague. The benefit to Arsenal this year should be that Shakhtar and Braga should take points off each other, preventing either from rising too high in the group.
Personally, I think 07-08 turned out more favorably for us than if we’d gotten Sevilla’s draw. There was that magical 2nd leg in the San Siro – Cesc’s goal celebration burned into my memory like Henry’s at the Bernabeu – and the liverpool tie was pretty entertaining (even despite the way in which we lost it)
Sevilla got Fenerbache – only one year removed from an equally inspiring tie against Eindhoven we completely s**t the bed on (leaving Alex alone for a header, what the f**k?) – and then an expected drubbing from Chelsea.
That said, it’ll be good to see Eduardo back. Honestly, wouldn’t mind too much if he scored a consolation goal against us
Thought the same Whiz… But you can’t bank on who else will finish in the winners’ pool and the runners’-up pool. The favorites in each group seem pretty solid for about six of the eight. Would hate to stumble then face Barca out of the gate.
Whiz: Yeah, wasn’t trying to say that Arsenal f**ked themselves in 07-08 because of finishing 2nd. But that there definitely (usually) is a tougher road when finishing 2nd.
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Agree wholeheartedly on Eduardo.
oh no, I agree. Always safer to finish top of the group. Ironically, prior to that bed wetting vs. Eindhoven, we topped the group virtue of head-to-head over Porto. Who drew Chelsea.
it IS all connected!