Group stage - 23 October 2007 20:45 (CET) - Arsenal Stadium - London
Arsenal FC manager Arsène Wenger has told his players there will be no room for complacency when they host SK Slavia Praha in the UEFA Champions League seeking a 12th consecutive victory in all competitions.
Exceptional form
With maximum points from their first two Group H games, Wenger believes the Premier League leaders will be "90 per cent" along the way to qualifying if they secure another win on Tuesday. But despite Arsenal's exceptional form, their manager, who celebrated his 58th birthday on Monday, is refusing to underestimate a Slavia side who eliminated AFC Ajax and then beat FC Steaua Bucureşti before slipping to a 4-2 defeat at Sevilla FC.
'Mental test'
"It's a typical, tricky tie," Wenger said. "We could think that, because we beat [AC] Sparta Praha [in the third qualifying round], we'll beat Slavia too. But the Champions League doesn't work like that. We needed to dig deep to beat Steaua. Slavia also beat Steaua and they scored two goals at Sevilla. This is another good mental test."
'Big warning'
The 2006 finalists fell to PSV Eindhoven in the first knockout round last term and while that result still rankles with Wenger, he is convinced his team are better equipped now. "The PSV game must serve as a big warning," the Frenchman said. "You never have easy games in this competition. But we've learned from our mistakes and I feel our teamwork is better. Before, we conceded a lot from counterattacks and set-pieces but now we're stronger in defence."
Walcott praise
Wenger will be counting on returning captain William Gallas to strengthen a back four shorn of the injured Philippe Senderos, while Theo Walcott could start on the right wing following an impressive cameo in Saturday's 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers FC, with Aleksandr Hleb handed a more central role in place of knee-injury victim Robin van Persie. "The timing and quality of his movement are good and he's back to the level he had before his injury," Wenger said of the teenager.
Vlček role
Slavia's domestic progress has been almost as impressive as that of the English pacesetters: they lead the Czech 1. Liga by five points having won eight out of ten games, including Friday's 3-0 triumph over FC Viktoria Plzen. Stanislav Vlček, who took his goal tally to seven with two against Plzen, should lead the visitors' attack as coach Karel Jarolím opts for a patched-up five-man midfield that should feature fit-again players Daniel Pudil (foot) and Michal Švec (toe).
"They're the favourites to win the group but there's no reason why we can't create a small miracle" - Karel Jarolím
'Small miracle'
Midfield trio Vladimír Šmicer, Dušan Švento and Petr Janda, and defensive pair Martin Latka and Erich Brabec, have all stayed in the Czech Republic with injuries. Yet despite the depleted nature of his squad, Jarolím is in upbeat mood, saying: "Arsenal are one of the best teams in Europe but we won't commit the same mistakes we made in Sevilla. Our players must be at the top of their games and we must play as a team, both in defence and attack. Everyone is beatable – even Arsenal. They're the favourites to win the group but there's no reason why we can't create a small miracle."
I say 2-0 Arsenal.
Dutch football is great.