Time to wipe Saturday’s nightmare from our memories.

Football - Arsenal v Manchester United UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg

Standard Liege captain Steven Defour broke his right foot in a league game at the weekend and is likely to be out of the whole group stage.

Midfielder Wilfried Dalmat and striker Igor de Camargo are injury doubts, and Alex Witsel is short of match practice because of an eight-game domestic ban.

Arsenal‘s squad includes Eduardo, after his two-match was overturned.

Manuel Almunia has a chest infection so there will be a Champions League debut for Vito Mannone or Wojciech Szczesny.

“From Saturday we lost Robin van Persie with a knee problem but it is a question of days for him (until he is fit),” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told the club website.

Theo Walcott, Denilson (back) and Robin van Persie (knee) are also rested for the trip to Belgium, so 18-year-old striker Sanchez Watt could be in line for his debut.

Samir Nasri (leg), Andrey Arshavin (groin), Lukasz Fabianski, Johan Djourou (both knee) and Carlos Vela (ankle) were all ruled out of the match already.
Arsenal (from): Mannone, Szczesny, Sagna, Clichy, Gallas, Vermaelen, Silvestre, Gibbs, Eboue, Song, Fabregas, Diaby, Ramsey, Rosicky, Wilshere, Bendtner, Eduardo, Watt. (BBC Sport)

I am sure we are all glad to be able to erase that Man City debacle by getting ready for this Champions League encounter (Something City and Adebayor won’t have any interest in, minor dig out of the way). We have a number of players out and it will be a distinctly young line up, even for Gunners standards, that takes the field against the Belgians.

A lot will depend on Cesc to push on and link midfield to attack, even more so given the likes of Arshavin are out. Hopefully Rosicky will play a part, he is a perfect player for these types of European nights where his intelligent attacking play is even more adaptable to the occasion. Could be one of those games where we have a lot of the ball but will have to wait for our chances and then make sure we take them.

Standard are a hard team to beat and defend well and are yet to lose this season.

My Prediction: 1-0 to Arsenal, Bendtner to score.


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