We have been drawn against PSG, Basel and Ludogorets. Tough tie obviously against PSG, although there's no ibrahimovich (we'll face him in the league) Return to Xhaka's first club Basel And two games we should definitely be winnin against Ludogorets. Thoughts ?
Good group, different teams from the norm, just thank **** we did not draw eitheir Bayern or Barca, sick and tired of playing those ****ers.
Very winnable. Which means we'll play a reserve team in the 6th game, come second and get KOd in theast 16.
Happy with the draw and we should come top, though we won't and then we'll get knocked out by Barca / Bayern next round.
We really need to avoid the mistakes of resting our top players if we qualify before the end of the group games. If we get these Perez and Mustafi deals done, then barring injury we have a big enough squad now cope with the CL group and the League at the same time.
It is doable Gunners fans!! Just get the better of PSG over the two legs. Group of death Group C: Barcelona (Spain), Manchester City (England), Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany), Celtic (Scotland). Celtic look like the whipping buoys. Group B: Benfica (Portugal), Napoli (Italy), Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine), Besiktas (Turkey). A team top this group with about 8 points as I do not see a really standout team here. All are capable of getting a win against each other on the day. Away performances are crucial here. Group H: Juventus (Italy), Sevilla (Spain), Lyon (France), Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia). Despite Sevilla winning the EL, this should be a walk in the park for Juve. Sevilla to join them Group D: Bayern Munich (Germany), Atletico Madrid (Spain), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), Rostov (Russia). How on earth are Bayern and Atletico in the same group. How were Atletico not in Pot 1? Bayern and Atletico to progress and I expect both to meet again at the serious end of the competiton. Group G: Leicester City (England), Porto (Portugal), Club Brugge (Belgium), FC Copenhagen (Denmark). Porto are the standout team here and should be joined by Leicester.
Quite a favourable group for us and PSG being the outstanding game. As long as we don't lose to PSG, this will be the best chance in some time of finishing 1st. We'll see what impact the new signings have on us.
That is an excellent draw for Leicester fair play - on their 1st ever showing they might/should get to the knockouts. Just about how they manage their squad between Prem and CL. Tough draw for Citey again. It's crazy, it really is. I think it's tough for us against PSG - but we don't have to travel too far with the other two games and we should be winning them.
City cannot catch a break in the CL draws Every year they get Barca, Bayern or Real Still think they will go through in 2nd though. All 4 teams should qualify really. Arsenal will finish 2nd too Spurs should piss their group Leicester it's hard to judge because we do not know how they will fare this season, but none of the sides in their group are impressive so i think they can sneak through that as well, they just need Vardy and Mahrez to find some form.
As a Spurs supporter, I consider it Nemesis for buying their place in the CL just as Spurs sent the Poool into oblivion. "Arsenal will finish 2nd too" That group is a bit scary. Basel have some pedigree, and the Ludo guys embarrassed the Pool in the CL the other year. "Spurs should piss their group" Monaco we have the measure of from last season. CSKA and Leverkusen are currently unknown quantities to us, but just assume they are no joke and give them the prep you would for a Barca or Munich. "Leicester it's hard to judge because we do not know how they will fare this season, but none of the sides in their group are impressive so i think they can sneak through that as well, they just need Vardy and Mahrez to find some form." Hopefully they can get at least 2nd. Porto are a serious pedigree side so no shame in that.
If I had to bet, I'd say they will all go through, Though I think Spurs will top their group, and Arse, ££££ and Leicester will go through as runners up. We need to have some success this year in Europe, in terms of getting our teams all through, to keep up our coefficient, since the two teams who kicked ass in Europe and earnt that coefficient in the first place (Chelsea and United) are not in the CL this year. United could tear up the Europa though.
Group E: CSKA Moscow (Russia), Bayer Leverkusen (Germany), Tottenham, Monaco (France). Who exactly are top seeds or even second seeds in that group? I mean I'd expect all of those teams to be third seeds - they hardly have the pedigree of Athletico Madrid, Juve, Bayern, Dortmund, Barca or Real in recent years in the CL have they?
Indeed. The PL in UEFA land has not been performing of late to the level needed to maintain maximum slots in both competitions (especially the Europa) . "United could tear up the Europa though." On paper, yes. But I can see Jose going a bit Arry 2011-12 and treating the competition with utter contempt.
A question. I cannot seem to find the answer to this anywhere..... What happens if the Europa League winners have already qualified for the Champions League via their league standing. Say for example United won the Europa League and the Premier League, who would get the Champions league spot awarded to the Europa league winner? The Europa League runner up? The fifth placed Premier League team? The highest seeded coefficient team in Europe who has not qualified for European competition? If anyone knows, let me know......
On UEFA rankings only : Leverkusen then Spurs. "I mean I'd expect all of those teams to be third seeds - they hardly have the pedigree of Athletico Madrid, Juve, Bayern, Dortmund, Barca or Real in recent years in the CL have they?" The rules that major league winners automatically go into pot 1 changes things. In the previous regime, Spurs would be in pot 2. Leverkusen have a pot 2 ranking whichever way you cut it. CSKA and Monaco in pot 3-4.
I believe the answer is that the Europa final loser does not get a CL slot by being a finalist, and that PL 5th place does not go into the CL qualifiers.
Then who is 1st seed, and if both Spurs and Leverkusen are 2nd seeds, how can they be in the same group? Either way you look at it, it's a piss easy group in comparison to some of the others
