Depleted Arsenal will face tough test
The last time Arsenal played on foreign soil in the Champions League, an unbelievable performance and four goals from Lionel Messi in the Nou Camp put an end to the Gunners' European ambitions for another season.
Partizan Belgrade may not be in the same league as Barcelona, but Arsenal should still find things tricky in Serbia.
The Arsenal medical team are once again earning their money this season, and currently have several first-team players on their treatment tables. Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and - after picking up an elbow injury at the weekend - Manuel Almunia, are all out injured.
The absence of Almunia has now put the much derided Lukasz Fabianski in the firing line. Not that Almunia had an unblemished record (see West Brom's second on Saturday for evidence), but he at least has plenty of experience on the European stage.
Arsenal's already fragile confidence will not be helped by their poor away record in Europe either. The Gunners have only won two of their last ten games on the road in the Champions League, and they were against Celtic in qualifying, and a 3-2 win against Standard Liège, after being 2-0 down.
Conversely, Partizan's home record is rather impressive, having not lost in their last seven matches at the Stadion FK Partizan. However, their opponents have included Rhyl, APOEL and Pyunik - hardly the greatest test of footballing ability.
They did draw their opening game of their Champions League campaign against Anderlecht this term though, and with Arsenal coming into the game with a depleted squad and off the back of a dreadful performance against West Brom, we fancy Partizan Belgrade to get a draw at [3.6].
What do you think will happen? Let us know what you think below...
Published: 28 Sep 2010
garethtowler (September 28, 2010 4:10 PM) said:
i think that arsenal will thrash this crap team 1000- 0. We are way too strong for them.