Arsenal v B Dortmund
Arsenal v B Dortmund
Champions League
LIVE ON ITV, 7.45pm
‘WENGER OUT, THEY SAID?’
The sack race is always an interesting side show to the Premier League and how increasingly quickly managers are dispensed with but even by Premiership premature standards calls for “Wenger Out” after their opening defeat of the season at home to Aston Villa have subsequently proved, how can I put this politely ? Balderdash.
Whilst Paolo Di Canio’s sacking at Sunderland became inevitable and Ian Holloway appears to be hanging on by the skin of his teeth at Crystal Palace after last night’s 4-1 home defeat to Fulham, Wenger has dumbfounded his critics in the best possible way – on the pitch.
Arsenal are now on a 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions – 10 of them victories – and sit proudly at the top of the Premier League table.
Wenger is 64 today and his best birthday present will come tonight at around 9.30pm if Arsenal can beat last year’s finalists Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates.
The teams have met four times so far in the Champions League
HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Max last 10 only)
Nov 2011 C/League Arsenal 2-1 B Dortmund
Sep 2011 C/League B Dortmund 1-1 Arsenal
Oct 2002 C/League B Dortmund 2-1 Arsenal
Sep 2002 C/League Arsenal 2-0 B Dortmund
Arsenal beat Napoli 2-0 in the last round and Dortmund comfortably accounted for Marseille winning 3-0.
England forward Theo Walcott remains sidelined following a minor setback after surgery on an abdominal problem, but otherwise the Gunners have no fresh injury problems following the 4-1 Barclays Premier League win over Norwich.
The stage looks set fair and with both teams not afraid of attacking football it’s the total goals market that again appeals, and over 2.5 goals looks solid at around 8/13 with Star Sports.
As for Mr Wenger’s 64th birthday, the Beatles posed a question “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, When I’m sixty-four?”
I think the answer is yes.
STAR FORECAST
(stake between 0.5 and 10 points)
6 points win OVER 2.5 GOALS at around 8/13