Arsenal isa CL top seed

Arsenal.com had a story on this a week or 2 ago, Wenger seem happy about it. Should make a big differance with the format changes.

What I find funny is UEFA ranks Arsenal higher then Juve yet below Lazio. Plus Milan are the lowest ranked of the top group, funny that the holder are that. Those multi-year ratings always produce some odd rankings. Would laugh even more if Lazio does not make the group stage.

 

An unexpected bonus! After only being past the group stages once, I'd have expected us to be in the second tier. Hopefully the format change this year will benefit us. If we can get through the first group stage, I believe we're better in cup football. We can play a high-tempo game where we go for it, rather than trying to be cagey and succumbing to defensive lapses.

 

Group stages, tw-legged head-to-head, one game winner-take-all, it really doesn't matter, the Arsenal have to adjust their footballing philosophy or strategy if they are going to win in Europe.

Either we go with our strength, scoring, and try to win Real Madrid-style, 4-3. We saw how far that got them this year (well, further than us, but not the trophy).

Or, we need to shift the priority of the team and get more defensive. The fact that our leading transfer rumour right now is Harry Kewell tells me that we're not looking to go defensive.

 

What also has me worried is the fact we've now lost our battle to get the Milan keeper, and we might not even get Kewell. So then just who the hell are we going to get?

And really I still can't even begin to understand why we're going after Kewell at all. Defenders, and a keeper, sure. But another striker, boggles the noggin.

 

I don't know if I agree with this. I think our defensive problems can be solved by getting some better quality in at centre back. Rather than shifting the emphasis to defence, better defending is what is needed. After all we have two essentially defensive midfielders in Vieira and Gilberto in front of them. With Gilberto having a season under his belt and Vieira hopefully shaking off recurring injuries we should be set fair for a good campaign if we can land one, or preferably two, quality centre backs.

 

I don't know that Gilberto is *naturally* defensive. Looking at highlights from last year (welcome to summer withdrawal), he seemed best when he was surging forward, and he showed against Roma (away) and ManU (home) that he can supply the occasional killer pass. Toward the end of the season--call it exhaustion or more defensive tactics--he seemed to hang back. He works well in that capacity, but I don't remember him doing much tackling. I'd be surprised if he doesn't move forward more if there's a dependable centre half brought in.

If we can get two defenders who are comfortable in the air, I don't think we have to change tactics a whole lot. I think Senderos is one of those guys, but we do need another (Mexes, it seems).