Ahoj, jak se máš? Tuesday November the 4th sees the Mighty Cannon haul its Arsenal over to the Czech Republic for a match up with Slavia Prague for our next match in the Champions League. Kick off at the Fortuna( Eden) stadium is at 18.45pm central European time (5.45pm UK time). Expected weather is 8° (feels like 6°) 0% chance of rain.
So Arsenal make the 642m trip over to Prague for out next bite of the Champions League cherry. Slavia Prague are currently top of their domestic league ( W8 D6 L0 F24 A8 and qualified for the CL by winning it last year. Alas I’m utterly insular and ignorant and unable to give you any insight whatsoever into the or team or manager, despite giving it a go. So if you have any please post away… they won their last domestic game at the weekend 2-0 against FC Banik Ostrava.
According to the info available these players are missing through injury: Ivan Schranz (muscle), Filip Horsky (ACL), Petr Sevcik (ACL), Dominik Javorcek (knee), Tomas Holes (knee), Igoh Ogbu (hamstring), Jan Boril (unspecified) but the rest of their squad is available.
Neither Martinelli or Big Vic trained on Monday, so who knows if they will get on the plane and warm the bench? The Zube will also be missing through suspension,although he did take a knock at Burnley, so a few adjustments may well be seen?
Arsenal are sitting in 4th of the CL table and have the same points as five other sides, Slavia Prague are languishing in 28th place (W0 D1 L2 F2 A5), drawing with Atalanta and losing to Inter on their last CL outings. Their stadium holds just under 20,000 and we can expect an intense atmosphere.
We met this club before in various European matches and tête-à-tête it be: P 4 W 2 D 2 ( for the Arsenal).
Our best mates over at Statto HQ got the International maritime signal flags out and made the signals that stated that Slavia Prague have a 9.1% chance of winning and Arsenal have 74.5%. Sbohem a užijte si hru! Next up its the old Mackems at the Stadium of Light, and then its Them at Ashburton Grove. So COYG!
Mills
The CL gives us some relief from the pressure of the PL. I don’t think it will matter who we turn out tomorrow, I see nothing but a win. The format means the league stage is less important, the nitty gritty is the knock out stages. I hope we rotate a lot and concentrate on the PL, at least untill the new year and the group stage is over.
Life as an Arsenal fan is rather serene right now?
Pedantic George.