Twente - Arsenal
There was an air of inevitability surrounding the Uefa Champions League 3rd qualifying round draw. Steve McClaren felt it the most, citing fate as the dealer handing him a tie that would ensure a trip back to his native island. The former England coach, after a spectacular qualifying failure, wisely chose to occupy a position in another country. Not only can he concentrate on rebuilding a fallen career, but he can do so aware from the intense scrutiny that the British press just love to administer. Steve McClaren has his doubters, but his record in cup competitions with a standard Premier League side is decent. With Middlesbrough, the Yorkshire-born former midfielder guided the Teeside firm to a victorious Carling Cup campaign in 2004, and two years later to a Uefa Cup final in 2006.
His England performances however were far from savoury, but since his acrimonious departure he hasn’t just sat idly by the couch pondering what could have been – he embarked on a tour round the training grounds of European clubs, mainly in Netherlands and Spain, picking up continental tips that he can add to his English education. Whether he has had enough time to implement these tactics in his first season, against top opposition, will remain the largest question mark, dangling over his head like the Sword of Damocles.Which way the tie will turn may be easier to predict.
This will be the first meeting between the two sides, and will even be FC Twente’s first encounter in Europe’s premier competition. Arsenal have been drawn in this stage of the competition twice in their history, emerging victorious both times with tricky ties against Dinamo Zagreb, and then Sparta Prague.
The last time a Steve McClaren side faced an Arsenal team he was on the wrong end of an embarrassing 7-0 defeat. Before FC Twente, and during his management of the English national side, only a minor percentage of his time would have been devoted to watching an Arsenal squad so heavy on imported talent. In the past, FC Twente have even been dubbed the Netherlands version of the late 80s and early to mid 90s Arsenal. Many of their games were goalless draws, single-goal draws, or one-nils.
They have never won the Eredivisie in its modern format though, which is traditionally dominated by the trident of PSV, Ajax, and Feyenoord. However, they do hold European pedigree, reaching the final of the Uefa Cup in 1975. Arsenal on the other hand reached the final of the Champions League only two years ago.Steve McClaren may already be resigned to using this tie as a learning curve for his players, and featuring in the Uefa Cup this campaign. He recently admitted: “Playing Arsenal will be a great experience for the players and if they don't become better players after playing against Arsenal, they shouldn't be in football.
That's how you learn. That's how you grow and playing against one of the best teams in Europe, obviously the players will grow from that.”The tie will be played at Vitesse Arnhem’s stadium – Gelredome – due to the rebuilding of FC Twente’s traditional home venue. Interestingly, the anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone is sung before each game, and the last time Arsenal heard this before kick-off in Europe, they crashed out thanks to Liverpool.
FC Twente
26 July vs Olymp. Piraeus (H) Result 2-0
01 Aug vs Arminia Bielefeld (A) Result 0-0
05 Aug vs Ankaraspor (H) Result 2-0
Arsenal
02 Aug vs Juventus (H) Result 0-1
03 Aug vs Real Madrid (H) Result 1-0
06 Aug vs Huddersfield Town (A) Result 2-1
08 Aug vs Ajax (N) Result 3-2
09 Aug vs Sevilla (N) Result 1-1
FC Twente
Steve McClaren will be rueing the loss of key player Orlando Engelaar, who has recently joined German side Schalke 04. In a similar fashion to Arsenal’s loss of defensive midfielders Flamini or Gilberto for Arsenal, Engelaar anchored the midfield and allowed play to flourish in front of him. Twente will be missing Youssouf Hersi, who is said to be short of match fitness, and Swiss striker Blaise N'Kufo, who is suspended. N'Kufo will be a big loss for the Dutch side, he is a powerful striker who can command a thunderous shot.
Arsenal
There was a time when Arsenal had a multitude of midfielders to choose from. The present day however is not one of those times. Since January, Arsenal have lost Lassana Diarra, Mathieu Flamini, and Gilberto. Leggy Frenchman Abou Diaby will sit this game out due to injury. Kolo Toure (hip), Philippe Senderos (hamstring), Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Samir Nasri (knee/thigh), Abou Diaby (thigh), Tomas Rosicky and Eduardo have all been left at home. Johan Djourou will likely partner William Gallas.
His England performances however were far from savoury, but since his acrimonious departure he hasn’t just sat idly by the couch pondering what could have been – he embarked on a tour round the training grounds of European clubs, mainly in Netherlands and Spain, picking up continental tips that he can add to his English education. Whether he has had enough time to implement these tactics in his first season, against top opposition, will remain the largest question mark, dangling over his head like the Sword of Damocles.Which way the tie will turn may be easier to predict.
This will be the first meeting between the two sides, and will even be FC Twente’s first encounter in Europe’s premier competition. Arsenal have been drawn in this stage of the competition twice in their history, emerging victorious both times with tricky ties against Dinamo Zagreb, and then Sparta Prague.
The last time a Steve McClaren side faced an Arsenal team he was on the wrong end of an embarrassing 7-0 defeat. Before FC Twente, and during his management of the English national side, only a minor percentage of his time would have been devoted to watching an Arsenal squad so heavy on imported talent. In the past, FC Twente have even been dubbed the Netherlands version of the late 80s and early to mid 90s Arsenal. Many of their games were goalless draws, single-goal draws, or one-nils.
They have never won the Eredivisie in its modern format though, which is traditionally dominated by the trident of PSV, Ajax, and Feyenoord. However, they do hold European pedigree, reaching the final of the Uefa Cup in 1975. Arsenal on the other hand reached the final of the Champions League only two years ago.Steve McClaren may already be resigned to using this tie as a learning curve for his players, and featuring in the Uefa Cup this campaign. He recently admitted: “Playing Arsenal will be a great experience for the players and if they don't become better players after playing against Arsenal, they shouldn't be in football.
That's how you learn. That's how you grow and playing against one of the best teams in Europe, obviously the players will grow from that.”The tie will be played at Vitesse Arnhem’s stadium – Gelredome – due to the rebuilding of FC Twente’s traditional home venue. Interestingly, the anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone is sung before each game, and the last time Arsenal heard this before kick-off in Europe, they crashed out thanks to Liverpool.
FC Twente
26 July vs Olymp. Piraeus (H) Result 2-0
01 Aug vs Arminia Bielefeld (A) Result 0-0
05 Aug vs Ankaraspor (H) Result 2-0
Arsenal
02 Aug vs Juventus (H) Result 0-1
03 Aug vs Real Madrid (H) Result 1-0
06 Aug vs Huddersfield Town (A) Result 2-1
08 Aug vs Ajax (N) Result 3-2
09 Aug vs Sevilla (N) Result 1-1
FC Twente
Steve McClaren will be rueing the loss of key player Orlando Engelaar, who has recently joined German side Schalke 04. In a similar fashion to Arsenal’s loss of defensive midfielders Flamini or Gilberto for Arsenal, Engelaar anchored the midfield and allowed play to flourish in front of him. Twente will be missing Youssouf Hersi, who is said to be short of match fitness, and Swiss striker Blaise N'Kufo, who is suspended. N'Kufo will be a big loss for the Dutch side, he is a powerful striker who can command a thunderous shot.
Arsenal
There was a time when Arsenal had a multitude of midfielders to choose from. The present day however is not one of those times. Since January, Arsenal have lost Lassana Diarra, Mathieu Flamini, and Gilberto. Leggy Frenchman Abou Diaby will sit this game out due to injury. Kolo Toure (hip), Philippe Senderos (hamstring), Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Samir Nasri (knee/thigh), Abou Diaby (thigh), Tomas Rosicky and Eduardo have all been left at home. Johan Djourou will likely partner William Gallas.
posted by Midnight Sun @ 02:04,
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