Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Partizan Belgrade vs Arsenal

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia will miss Tuesday's Champions League trip to Partizan Belgrade with an elbow injury.

Almunia, who was at fault for two goals as the Gunners lost 3-2 at home to West Brom in the Premier League on Saturday, will be replaced by Lukasz Fabianski.

"The whole squad was very low after the weekend but I believe we will play well on Tuesday," said boss Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners are still without the injured trio of Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie.

Full-back Kieran Gibbs will undergo a fitness test on Monday before the Arsenal squad flies out to Belgrade.

Arsenal started their European campaign with a 6-0 home win against Braga and Wenger, who says he would not have dropped Almunia had he been fit, is looking for a quick response to Saturday's calamitous defeat by West Brom.

"There is always an easy target, an easy scapegoat," added the Gunners manager. "But I believe we win together and we lose together.

"Even if people think Manuel made a mistake on the second goal, we made a few before that as well as a team, so we all have to stand up for what happened.

"Manuel is very low, he was disappointed to have lost the game. Everyone felt the same, because we had a good opportunity and we didn't take it.

"But we are a good side and we will bounce back and I think we will have a good game in Belgrade."

Almunia's injury gives Fabianski another chance to stake his claim to be Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper.

The Pole played in last week's 4-1 Carling Cup victory over Tottenham but was beaten by a relatively tame strike from Robbie Keane as Spurs equalised to send the match into extra-time.

"I believe in his talent," said Wenger. "He gets another opportunity to show how good he is.

"There is only one way to show confidence in a player and that is to put him on the pitch and give him his chance."

Partizan, who lead the Serbian championship, drew 0-0 with Spartak Subotica on Sunday, having lost 1-0 at Shakhtar Donetsk in their first game in the group stage of the Champions League.

They will be looking to Serbian international midfielder Sasa Ilic and Brazil-born striker Cleo to do the damage at the Stadion FK Partizan.

"What I expect is for Partizan to play a highly passionate game and to try to catch us on the break," said Wenger.

"They have the traditional strengths of Serbian teams - they are intelligent, with a good technique and in the final third, if you give them room they are always dangerous.

"Overall what I believe is the most dangerous for us is that they win the duels, play at a high pace and we are not prepared for that.

"I believe the collective drive that they have going forward could be dangerous for us."

Source: BBC Sport on 27 Sep 10

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