Get to know the five teams Arsenal may be drawn against tomorrow
Atletico Madrid, Fiorentina, Celtic, Anderlecht and Timisoara are the only option of teams Arsene Wenger’s men may be pitted against to overcome and book a berth in the group stages of next season’s Champions League.
The draw for the Champions League’s last round of qualifiers takes place tomorrow and tension is certainly rising.
Due to a change of the competition’s format, Arsenal are the only side from England’s top four to go through this phase. That has become the price of finishing fourth in the Premier League last season and there will be no better motivation to improve than the sight of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool comfortably securing their places in the group stages.
Here is a lowdown on each of the five teams who may have fingers crossed about the possibility of facing Arsenal.
ATLETICO MADRID
Atletico may visit the Emirates Stadium again in less than a month after booking their place in this phase just like Wenger’s men did. The Spanish contenders finished fourth in La Liga last term and are yet to be beaten in the Champions League.
‘Los colchoneros’ were ousted from their debut season in the competition last year by away goals rule against Porto following a 2-2 draw at home and 0-0 stalemate in Portugal at the round of 16 stage.
FIORENTINA
Fiorentina have being an ordinary mention among Arsenal fans this summer after Felipe Melo’s recent link to the Gunners while the Italian side continue to pursue Emmanuel Eboue.
The ‘Viola’ are here through a fourth-place finish in the Serie A and were involved in the competition last term.
CELTIC
Arsenal’s British neighbors secured another participation in Europe’s elite competition despite giving up their Scottish league crown as runners-up to Rangers last season.
The Celts were involved last year, but fell short to Aalborg, Villarreal and Manchester United in their group’s rankings.
RSC ANDERLECHT
Anderlecht shared the Belgian Premier League title with Standard Liege whom they finished level on points with despite losing the championship playoff.
Arsenal does have something to do with Anderlecht. It was the “Purple & White” whom the Gunners beat 4-3 on aggregate in the 1970 Fairs Cup Final to claim their main European achievement in history.
RSC have agonizingly been denied a berth in this competition at the final stage of qualifiers in the past two seasons.
FC TIMISOARA
Timisoara are perhaps the main unknown quantity among Arsenal’s potential opponents.
The Romanians are here courtesy of draws home and away against Shakhtar Donetsk in the previous round which saw them advance on away goals rule. The ‘White-Violets’ were rewarded this chance after finishing second in the Romanian Liga 1 last season.
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So there you have it.
Arsenal will be learning their fate tomorrow – whether it being fear of an embarrassing failure to qualify if drawn against a formidable side or relief over being handed an easy pass, will be known by 12 pm (British time) on Friday.
“fear of an embarrassing…”
Everyone of those 5 teams will be praying not get drawn against Arsenal!
I do not particularly care one way or the other who we get we will win!
You will care when we are sent out into a cold Romanian night or under the atmosphere at the Vincente Calderon or Celtic Park.
See, if you don’t want disappointment at this stage, then play that tactical game of reverse psychology that managers play, by refusing to underestimate anyone.
well put!
We are Arsenal! We fear no one!
Anderlecht please
Randy, he’s not paid to be the manager, the fact is we’re better than every team on that list. Fiorentina and Atletico are the ones I don’t want, the other three I’m less worried about, but we’ll still be the favourites no matter who we draw.
I dont know anymore. We dont want to spend. There are injuries now. What do we do? We dont have the same confidence in the team that we had 5 years ago. All we can do is hope that on the day the players click and we acheive the right result.
bring them on
Arsenal, will get past this phase witout no doubt! Those teams will not like to play a team who made it to the semi-finals last competition. Bring on whoever we draw! Gunners are out to prove point this year!
No team will defeat Arsenal at this early stage. Anybody on that group will flogged out, bet it.
Up Gunners
So long as we play to our true strength and do not underestimate our opponents, there is no reason to fear anyone.
Randy – why the fuck would we care about being sent to Romania? Its 3 degrees warmer than London mate.
RSC ANDERLECHTFC or else TIMISOARA
bcoz other teams can create problem… but no matter what happens /// arsenal wll defeat any team …
arsenal can defeat any team ..
but at this stage with so many injury problem and stll no new player it would be better we face ANDERLECHT or else TIMISOARA