Sniping At The Gunners
‘ONE defeat (and that in a game that they should probably have won) hardly constitutes a crisis but a sense of perspective has never had much of a place in football.
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| Starting Gunners? |
And Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is forced to defend his side ahead of tonights European Cup showdown with Chelsea.
We will not wobble, he declares on the back page of the Sun, while the Mirror suggests he has given his team orders to destroy Chelsea.
For a more sober assessment of a game that will have a profound impact on both clubs seasons, we turn to the broadsheets.
Its going to be a battle, Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira tells the Telegraph with a smile and the paper is clearly relishing the prospect.
The Arsenal of Vieira and Henry versus a Chelsea side marching to the English drumbeat of Lampard, Parker and Terry stands proud, it says, as a monumental match-up, a confrontation worthy of televisions relentless hype.
It is an intoxicating mix, a fascinating cocktail of the Molotov variety.
To matters more mundane and the Guardian reports that both Jose Antonio Reyes and Freddie Ljungberg could both be fit for tonights game and the Telegraph believes both will start.
The rest of Europe would be forgiven for looking for ways to prevent Millwall taking the place in next seasons Uefa Cup that their FA Cup final appearance will earn.
But the Indy says that the authorities at Uefa are virtually certain to make an exception for the Lions after it emerged that they could be banned because Dennis Wise has no coaching qualifications.
The governing body is bringing in new rules governing all aspects of clubs wishing to participate in its competitions but the rules wont take effect until next season.
What right Uefa have to dictate the qualifications or otherwise of coaches we do not know.
It is one thing to lay down minimum specifications for stadia and insist on certain standards of financial stability, but quite another to get involved in personnel issues.
According to the Indy, even Sir Alex Ferguson doesnt have an A badge and no-one would suggest that Manchester United have suffered unduly because of that.’
Posted: 6th, April 2004 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
