The Champions League and Thursday night football draws were done with the day before. For the London clubs, Italian opposition stands in the way of their elusive yet to be realized ambition of European continental soccer domination.
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| Arsenal Planet? Image thanks Nasa |
Following the draw, the odds stand as follows: Chelsea12/1, Arsenal 20/1. The La Liga hegemony of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid hold sway with the bookies at 6/4 and 9/4 ; with the former elected to cement their status as the best team seen yet, by doing the impossible and retaining the Champions League come the finals in Munich.
The early discussions on the Ac Milan- Arsenal round of 16 tie reveal mutual respect, with both managers cautious in their press draw reactions. Pundits of the Glen Hoddle mold reckon that the remaining English representatives are nowhere near their best years and will find it hard finishing off the Italian job.
Going by the odds, at 25/1AC Milan joins Arsenal in the second tier of would be European Champions; but as any football fan would know, victory is about form and tactics on the day more so in the Champions League where credentials have lesser say the further a team progresses in the elite competition.
Odds by: paddypower
My mojo is really up for this one. Among us, those who buy into the Freudian take on dreams,it should mean something me saying that I saw it all in a dream. In that dream, we met and beat Napoli in the quarters, so much for Chelsea, then went onto meet Madrid in the semis but just as it got good, my morning alarm clock went off. Heck, if the tiny tots did it at a similar stage in February of this year, then there ought be nothing to fear right?
Nostalgia is how the now all rounded Theo rounded Nesta to set on a plate and make Adebayor look good for that second goal at the dead in Milan. Before that, was the Cesc Fabregas screamer from something like thirty yards out! Someway to announce yourself on the European stage. This timeout, it may be Ramsey's chance as although Wilshere maybe in the squad, he might fall short of match fitness following a long injury lay-off.
That year, 2008 I think, is the closest we came to Premiership glory. If my memory serves me right, the situation around the team was pretty much as it is now: An new look Arsenal side exceeding expectations- only difference now is the likes of Arteta, Per Martesacker, Varmaelen,resurgent RvP, more complete Theo and Song 'the midfield dynamo'. We are older and wiser. Experience they call it.
Why the dream? Maybe it's because come the year of the Mayan Amargedon, 2012, preseason might see Arsenal tour West Africa. Local media says so- and they even have footage of Arsenal officials doing a tour of facilities in Nigeria.
To my dreamy head, that act is in it self telling. An indication that the fundamentals- market potential to strengthen the global reach of the Arsenal brand- are all ready in place. What remains are the technicalities such as the quality of the pitch, shower condition etc. If the fact that seven months ago, the Argentinian national team (Ok, Messi wasn't in Abuja)didn't mind them during their friendly against the Super Eagles holds sway, then we Gooners in and around the Equator better start saving.
If they thought the 2010 South African World Cup triggered mass movement of people fostering trade and building important relationships in the emerging market that Africa is; I tell them to wait for the day The Arsenal will set foot in the mother continent.
First though, the small matter of conquering Manchester the city tomorrow. Keep it here for preview of the Manchester City Arsenal clash.
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