Tonight is very important 15 August, 2007

Yep.

As arseblogger pointed out this is the most important game of the season so far so we really have to focus on this one. I think a goal is absolutely vital. A clean sheet at the Grove is quite a rare thing and we have to kind of expect that Sparta are going to come here in the second leg and score. 1-0 tonight would do the job but I think we could get more.

The team is set to be pretty much the same as Sunday’s; Eduardo, Adebayor, Gilberto, Diaby and Denilson are all out of the squad with minor problems.

Just writing that list there, that is 5 top players missing from our team. Yet we are coping fine with the players we have. Maybe Wenger was right about our squad is big enough? To be fair thou, another forward or central midfielder injured then we’d be in trouble.

Anyway yeah, I’m expecting exactly the same team as Sunday. Maybe Walcott could start instead of Eboue but I’m pretty sure it’ll be the same 11. That team should be more than enough to beat Sparta’s side; gunnerblog outlines the main stars of their team and to be honest it doesn’t look like that much to worry about.

Thomas Rosicky is looking forward to returning to his old club and ‘m sure it’ll be an emotional return:

“It will be the first time I have played against them. I grew up there. This is my club. I was there from seven or eight until my 20s and Sparta Prague prepared me for all the steps throughout my career. My brother played for Sparta Prague and my father played for Sparta Prague so it is a bit emotional. It will be strange for me because I have feelings for the club.”

He’ll be looking to make an impact on tonight’s game so hopefully we can look forward to a good performance from him.

Jens Lehmann will play tonight. Arsene admits he made a big mistake at the weekend but this won’t mean he’ll lose his place in the side. Hopefully now next time he’ll think about playing the safe ball.

Right I’m off to find a pub showing the game. I’ll try get a match report up tomorrow.