Champions League Qualifiers

[M-50]

One of these will be our opponents in 4th round qualifying:

Rubin Kazan, Udinese, Dynamo Kiev, FC Twente, Standard Liege, Panathinaikos, FC Zurich, Odense, Trabzonspor, FC Timisoara

[Bring Back Pires]

Ugh. European Cup Winners Cup flashback.

[SurreyGooner]

Hoping we get a team that'll bring decent support to the bowl

[Dan_85]

Panathinaikos please

[Bergkamp-Genius]

If it was in the midst of winter i would be a little worried about Kazan and Kiev...but for this round i don't think they will be too much of a problem..Any of the rest should be pretty comfortable ties for us...

[Perryashburtongroves]

A few banana skins there and all of them will fancy having a go at knocking out Arsenal.

[TeeCee]

All depends on whether Wenger signs some quality in defence. If he doesn't, we could easily go out to a couple of those teams.

[Babu]

Hope that my home-town team FC Zürich will get that far.
They will bring decent support to the bowl, that's for sure.



FC Zürich's season has just finished, and training starts again on June 16th, so they will be ready for it, and will have played and won the qualifier if they get through to play The Arsenal, so not as easy as some might think, although The Arsenal should really have no problems with any of the opposition, especially as there will be no winter games, as Bergkamp-Genius has already mentioned.

Udinese could also be a bit tricky, as could Panathinaikos, but really The Arsenal should cruise through.

If FCZ don't make it that far I would like Udinese, as Udine is close to me,and the ground is quite nice, and an old FCZ hero - and Arsenal transfer target - Gökhan Inler, plays for them.
Second best would be Panathinaikos, as that's a good day out, and have been there before, and other than that no real hopes.

[g88ner]

One of these will be our opponents in 4th round qualifying:

Rubin Kazan, Udinese, Dynamo Kiev, FC Twente, Standard Liege, Panathinaikos, FC Zurich, Odense, Trabzonspor, FC Timisoara

Hmm... we'd obviously be favourites regardless of the opposition, but Udinese finished 4th in Serie A (ahead of Lazio, Juventus and Roma) so shouldn't be underestimated and Arsenal have struggled when travelling to Eastern Europe many many times before, so beware Dynamo Kiev & Rubin Kazan, and maybe even Panathinaikos too.

I know absolutely nothing about Trabzonspor and Timisoara...

FC Twente, Liege, Zurich and Odense should - hopefully - be okay though.

Thing is, it's so early in the season that a shock is always possible

[USMartin]

Hope that my home-town team FC Zürich will get that far.
They will bring decent support to the bowl, that's for sure.



FC Zürich's season has just finished, and training starts again on June 16th, so they will be ready for it, and will have played and won the qualifier if they get through to play The Arsenal, so not as easy as some might think, although The Arsenal should really have no problems with any of the opposition, especially as there will be no winter games, as Bergkamp-Genius has already mentioned.

Udinese could also be a bit tricky, as could Panathinaikos, but really The Arsenal should cruise through.

If FCZ don't make it that far I would like Udinese, as Udine is close to me,and the ground is quite nice, and an old FCZ hero - and Arsenal transfer target - Gökhan Inler, plays for them.
Second best would be Panathinaikos, as that's a good day out, and have been there before, and other than that no real hopes.

Iknew that you would be jazzed about this - hope it works out - even though hopfully it will suck for yourt local mates...

[Dan_85]

One of these will be our opponents in 4th round qualifying:

Rubin Kazan, Udinese, Dynamo Kiev, FC Twente, Standard Liege, Panathinaikos, FC Zurich, Odense, Trabzonspor, FC Timisoara

Hmm... we'd obviously be favourites regardless of the opposition, but Udinese finished 4th in Serie A (ahead of Lazio, Juventus and Roma) so shouldn't be underestimated and Arsenal have struggled when travelling to Eastern Europe many many times before, so beware Dynamo Kiev & Rubin Kazan, and maybe even Panathinaikos too.

I know absolutely nothing about Trabzonspor and Timisoara...

FC Twente, Liege, Zurich and Odense should - hopefully - be okay though.

Thing is, it's so early in the season that a shock is always possible

Pana have had a pretty poor season & were pushed for that second CL spot right to the end by PAOK. They're set to lose a number of their top players over the summer as well, not least Gilberto & Cisse. It's a sweet trip though & a little bit moody too which is why I hope we get 'em. Athens is a top city as well.

[Babu]

Hmm... we'd obviously be favourites regardless of the opposition, but Udinese finished 4th in Serie A (ahead of Lazio, Juventus and Roma) so shouldn't be underestimated and Arsenal have struggled when travelling to Eastern Europe many many times before, so beware Dynamo Kiev & Rubin Kazan, and maybe even Panathinaikos too.

I know absolutely nothing about Trabzonspor and Timisoara...

FC Twente, Liege, Zurich and Odense should - hopefully - be okay though.

Thing is, it's so early in the season that a shock is always possible

FC Rubin Kazan have got some old git by the name of Obafemi Martins playing for them, I've just seen. Now where have I heard that name recently?

Really shouldn't be underestimated.

Trabzonspor are the 'claret and blues' of Turkey, so my most hated club in Turkey. I grew up in west ham land, so anything that reminds me of that scum tends to get my back up.
Saying that, Trabzon is a nice city, and would be well worth a trip.

Timisoara would also be an interesting trip. Never been there, but a Man City friend of mine said he was stunned by the place. Sounded very interesting.

[Babu]

Iknew that you would be jazzed about this - hope it works out - even though hopfully it will suck for yourt local mates...

Fc Zürich haven't got a hope in hell of getting through the first games.

They have to play one of Rubin Kazan, Udinese, Dynamo Kiev, FC Twente or Standard Liege and the gap will be too big.
Only chance is to get Liege, and hope!

Saying that, if FCZ do get The Arsenal then it will be the game I have been wishing for since probably 1973, so fingers crossed.

[topgoon]

Hmm... we'd obviously be favourites regardless of the opposition, but Udinese finished 4th in Serie A (ahead of Lazio, Juventus and Roma) so shouldn't be underestimated and Arsenal have struggled when travelling to Eastern Europe many many times before, so beware Dynamo Kiev & Rubin Kazan, and maybe even Panathinaikos too.

I know absolutely nothing about Trabzonspor and Timisoara...

FC Twente, Liege, Zurich and Odense should - hopefully - be okay though.

Thing is, it's so early in the season that a shock is always possible

FC Rubin Kazan have got some old git by the name of Obafemi Martins playing for them, I've just seen. Now where have I heard that name recently?

Really shouldn't be underestimated.

Trabzonspor are the 'claret and blues' of Turkey, so my most hated club in Turkey. I grew up in west ham land, so anything that reminds me of that scum tends to get my back up.
Saying that, Trabzon is a nice city, and would be well worth a trip.

Timisoara would also be an interesting trip. Never been there, but a Man City friend of mine said he was stunned by the place. Sounded very interesting.

Martins just had major surgery on his leg so might not feature if we get them, but he will only need one good leg if we don't sort out our defence by then.

Udinese are going to lose their best player Sanchez to Shitty/R.Madrid/Chavs so that should weaken them...then again everyone probably thinks the same about our team..Nasri and Fabregas.

[Babu]

Martins just had major surgery on his leg so might not feature if we get them, but he will only need one good leg if we don't sort out our defence by then.

Udinese are going to lose their best player Sanchez to Shitty/R.Madrid/Chavs so that should weaken them...then again everyone probably thinks the same about our team..Nasri and Fabregas.

Just checked on Martins, and it does look as if he'll be missing if we do get them, but as you say, a 60 year old Nigerian with only one good leg v. our defence is still a bit of a gamble!!!

Udinese are a very good team, and play some seriously boring football from what I've seen ( and I do watch them fairly regularly, as a couple of local boys from my home team play for them now ), but they are very difficult to beat, and that could be the trickiest game for us.