Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger bemoans ‘more predictable’ Champions League

Manager Arsene Wenger of Arsenal conducts a team training session on Tuesday ahead of their Wednesday match against Galatasaray in the Champions League. Paul Gilham / Getty Images / September 30, 2014

Press Association

October 1, 2014 Updated: October 1, 2014 10:57 AM

Arsene Wenger has just about seen it all in his 18 years as Arsenal manager, and he feels while the Champions League is harder to win now, it has become somewhat predictable.

After losing 2-0 away to Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 1, Arsenal are bottom of Group D.

However, Wenger remains confident his side can now turn things around in Europe, starting against Galatasaray on Wednesday night, exactly 18 years to the date he first took over for the club.

Wenger insists he “never looks back”, but continues to believe in the “huge potential” of his current squad to deliver.

Wenger, who last season ended a nine-year trophy drought by winning the FA Cup, has never won the Champions League, reaching the 2006 final only to watch his side beaten by Barcelona in Paris.

“Maybe it was more open 15 years ago than it is today. The concentration of the big players in a short number of clubs is much more than it was before,” said Wenger, who turns 65 in October and last season marked 1,000 matches in charge.

“It is much more predictable today, the outcome of the Champions League, than it was 10 years ago. It is harder to win it, but as well more exciting.

“If you make a poll tomorrow and say to people ‘give me four clubs who will win the Champions League’, then 80 or 90 per cent of people will say ‘there are these four clubs’.

“I don’t think that we are one of the four who will be favourites to win it, but football is strange – and not always predictable, so let’s first qualify from the group stage and then we will see.”

The Arsenal manager continued: “One thing that has not changed compared to 18 years ago, the players were very intelligent and they are still very intelligent today.

“They know what is at stake. Mathematically they know tomorrow (against Galatasaray) is the game for us.”

Wenger had confirmed at Arsenal’s Tuesday pre-match press conference France forward Olivier Giroud, currently recovering from a fractured fibia, had agreed an extension, the formalities of which are set to be completed ahead of an official announcement.

“We want stability and we want to keep the core of our team together because I am a great believer in that,” said Wenger.

However, that positive news was tempered by the prognosis on Aaron Ramsey, who pulled up during Saturday’s north London derby against Tottenham and, along with injured captain Mikel Arteta, will be out for at least four weeks, missing Saturday’s trip to Premier League leaders Chelsea.

England midfielder Jack Wilshere, though, could feature on Wednesday despite turning his ankle in the first half at the weekend.

While Ramsey will not be available for Wales’ upcoming European Championship qualifiers, Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs could be handed a recall to England by Roy Hodgson.

“For a long time it was Ashley Cole (for England), (there was) no discussion. Now it is a bit more open,” said Wenger.

“It is a good example (for Gibbs) to follow because Ashley is top.

“You see stories about Ashley Cole, but on the day of a game, when it mattered and when you had to be there, he was always there. You have to respect that.”

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Can there be a defence for our lack of depth in defence?

Hello Gooners! Today, we have another guest piece by Paul on our defensive issues. Over to you Paul!

Thanks Sir Gunner.

With a long-term injury to new boy Debuchy now confirmed at 3 months and a short-term injury to Monreal, our defensive options are getting weaker & weaker.

Even before the Debuchy injury, many if not all Arsenal fans were bemoaning the lack of an additional centre back signing to replace the now departed ex skipper Thomas Vermaelen, so what is going on when it comes to our defensive options (or rather the lack of)?

I recall in a press conference during the summer when Wenger all but confirmed Vermaelen’s departure during pre-season, he stated categorically that he would be replaced. Having already taken steps to replace the departed Sagna with Debuchy & Chambers (whilst allowing Jenkinson to leave on loan to West Ham) there was no reason to doubt Wenger’s intentions in the centre back department. So why did he not do what he promised?

Perhaps when he signed Chambers, presumably seen as a backup right back, at least initially, he realised just what a competent centre back he is and it persuaded him that maybe he’d inadvertently already signed his replacement centre back, albeit we now know that young Chambers can’t possibly cover both centre back and right back positions regularly, especially when there’s a long-term injury as we now have with Debuchy,

Was the problem in signing a centre back, as some have suggested, that players looked at the Koscielny/Mertesacker partnership which is now so embedded and thought they’ll always be 3rd choice and rarely play so opted to go elsewhere? I find this hard to believe. Good players have egos and they’d believe they were good enough to get into the first team & break up that partnership. After all, we didn’t have trouble persuading Ospina to sign even though Szczesny is clearly our no 1 keeper.

Perhaps Wenger felt our young players provided the required cover? I write this just after we went out to Southampton in the Capital One Cup with a line-up that featured the likes of Hayden & Chambers as well as Coquelin in defence. Could these players offer the backup we need in the Premiership and Champions League too?

Until they get that chance it’s hard to know if they’re all up to the task although in Coquelin’s case he isn’t really a defender, yes a defensive midfield player but not someone you’d naturally choose in your back four. Also, he’s been knocking around the first team for a while and failed to make the breakthrough.  As for Hayden & indeed even to some extent Chambers too, they’re young & raw and will inevitably make mistakes whilst learning on the job. Is that really the best we should expect as our defensive back up?

Maybe the real crux of the issue was that Wenger simply wouldn’t play what was needed to land the players we were interested in & who were available? It’s hard to imagine that he wasn’t at least looking to bring in another defender. That he’s opted to go in to the season with only two experienced centre backs is astonishing, Last season I felt we just about got away with having only 3 centre backs plus Sagna as back up so to have even fewer options this season is impossible to defend. With the Debuchy injury, it is already coming back to haunt us. Just think what might happen if Mertesacker or Koscielny picked up a suspension or worse still got injured between now and Christmas, the consequences are unthinkable yet were completely avoidable.

There has been some suggestion that we night now look at free agents as a potential solution. I doubt this will happen. If they’re a free agent, my question is why? Good quality players are snapped up by someone during the transfer window. I think it’s highly unlikely we’ll go down that route but Wenger must act in January to strengthen our centre back options because the bottom line is there is no defence for our lack of depth in defence.

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Chelsea’s John Terry reflects on Sporting win

Post-match

By Damian Buxton

Posted on October 1, 2014

Chelsea captain John Terry has admitted that his team failed to kill off Sporting Lisbon tonight, but told reporters after the game that getting the win was all that mattered. Furthermore, the skipper revealed he was “feeling great” after making 100 Champions League appearances for the Blues.

Nemanja Matic scored the game’s only goal in Lisbon to give Chelsea a 1-0 win, but the Blues spurned numerous chances to add to their tally and give the scoreline a more comfortable look.

Sporting 0-1 Chelsea: Nemanja Matic earns Jose Mourinho his first Champions League win of the season

However Terry insisted that the three points were all that was important, stressing that the win puts Chelsea in control of their group.

Having drawn 1-1 with Schalke in their opening game, Chelsea currently sit top of Group G with four points

“Sporting are a good side and it was a big night for them,” said Terry after the game.

“We had so many chances to kill it off, but it was just one of those nights where it didn’t quite go in for us.

“We had to come here and win tonight and we got it. It puts us top of the group and in control again.”

On a personal level, the game marked Terry’s 100th game in the Champions League for Chelsea. He admitted he was proud to have reached the landmark and insisted that he is feeling in good shape and looking forward to more European nights in the coming years.

“I’m very proud – not many players have achieved that,” he said of the landmark. “I’ve had a great and successful career and long may it continue. I’m feeling great at the moment.”

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Jose Mourinho hints he could manage Arsenal or Liverpool one day

Jose Mourinho would be happy to manage a rival to Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Jose Mourinho has hinted that he could manage Arsenal or Liverpool one day – after admitting he wouldn’t have a problem working for one of Chelsea’s rivals.

Mourinho has been strongly linked with managing both the Gunners and the Reds in the last few years, but has never been formally offered a job.

And while he is loved and adored at Chelsea, the Special One says he wouldn’t rule out taking a job with a rival club, like Arsenal or Liverpool, one day.

‘If it had to be then yes,’ he said when quizzed if he’d coach a rival.

‘I know football and know I won’t be here five, eight, ten years if I don’t manage to win. I don’t work in comfort zones – it doesn’t fit my personality.’

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Manchester United Defender In Shock Early Return

Manchester United centre-back Phil Jones is set to ease his team’s injury crisis by returning to fitness for the weekend’s game against Everton.

The England defender was expected to be missing from first-team action for another 2 weeks, but is ahead of schedule in his recovery and should make his comeback on Sunday, according to the Express.

Jones injured his hamstring while playing for in England’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland last month, leaving an already depleted United backline in further jeopardy.

After summer departures, new boss Louis van Gaal was left with just new signing Marcos Rojo, Jonny Evans and youngster Tyler Blackett as his only recognised central defenders.

Evans then picked up an injury of his own against Leicester City, before Tyler Blackett was sent off in the same game, so the Dutchman was forced to bring in another youth player in Paddy McNair for last weekend’s match.

But with Jones now set for a return, along with fellow centre-back Chris Smalling, United’s defensive tribulations appear to be coming to a welcome end.

Red Devils fans will be pleased to see a familiar face restored to their defence, though with Phil Jones, you never quite know which face it will be.

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Man Utd News: Di Maria EXIT, Hummels talks future move, LVG wants £25m Swiss star

MANCHESTER UNITED record signing Angel Di Maria is already planning his exit from the club. Here's all the latest news coming out of Old Trafford.

Angel Di Maria

Manchester United new boy Angel Di Maria is already planning his next move.

United smashed the British transfer record last month to sign the Argentina star from Real Madrid, splashing out a whopping £59.7m.

But Di Maria has already opened the door to an exit from United.

The 26-year-old admitted he is dreaming of returning to his first club Rosario Central in his homeland.

"But it will also be a dream to play again in Central," Di Maria said.

Mats Hummels

Borussia Dortmund captain Mats Hummels says he is flattered by the interest in him.

New United boss Louis van Gaal wanted to bring the Germany World Cup winner to Manchester during the summer.

HEADING FOR THE EXIT DOOR? Manchester United record signing Angel Di Maria is already eyeing up a return to his native Argentina [GETTY]

But a deal for Hummels failed to materialise.

And amid talk of a renewed bid in the new year, Hummels said: "I take that as a compliment. But it doesn't influence me in any way, otherwise. We earn enough here in Dortmund."

Ricardo Rodriguez

German champions Bayern Munich are set to rival United for Wolfsburg left-back Ricardo Rodriguez in January.

The Switzerland international was another of Van Gaal's summer targets.

However following the £31.5m arrival of Luke Shaw, a move for Rodriguez was shelved as Van Gaal turned his focus towards adding to his attacking options.

Reports last week suggested that United are set to revive their pursuit of Rodriguez during the winter transfer window.

However German media outlet Blick claim United will face competition from Bayern for the £25m-rated defender.

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Ex Man Utd Paul Scholes mocks the Man City fans during the Roma game [VINE]

Empty seats at the Etihad were seen in disturbingly great numbers as Man City drew 1-1 against Roma. And Paul Scholes, who is on the ITV panel for Champions League this season was in no mood to let the City fans off.

Adrian Chiles: “A great game here, played in front of a great atmosphere” Paul Scholes: “That’s Roma fans you hear by the way”

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