English sides go through, making final group stage game pointless
Arsenal 1/ Dynamo Kiev 0
Cesc Fabgregas became the fourth consecutive permanent Arsenal captain to taste victory in their first European match, thanks to a late strike from ol’ pink boots Nicklas Bendtner.
Villarreal 0/ Manchester Utd 0
Over in Spain, Cristiano Ronaldo was hacked to bits during a bore draw that eased both sides into the final sixteen.
Spoiler bonus: See the Champions League’s all-time top goalscorer help put Real Madrid through after the jump…
The stats say he will get off to a winning start tonight
All eyes will be on Cesc Fabregas tonight, who begins his run as permanent Arensal captain when Dynamo Kiev visit the Emirates. According to the boffins at chickendinner, luck is on the side of new Arsenal captains:
Arsenal are entering this game in terrible form with one win in five and having failed to score in three of their last four. However, the Gunners’ last three permanent captains - Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and William Gallas - all tasted victory in both their first home match after inheriting the armband and their first European match.
For more statistics on tonight’s Champions League games, visit chickendinner
Since being dumped from Arsenal’s losing weekend squad, Whingey William Gallas has reportedly been training “very well” (perhaps he has been running around the cones particularly fast or wearing his bib to an excellent standard), and could be offered a place in the squad for tomorrow night’s match with Dynamo Kiev (against whom he scored a last gasp equaliser in September), provided he apologises to the rest of his team.
So, should Professor Wenger try and reinstate some equilibrium in his side by bringing the Frenchman back? Or will he actually cause more disruption by returning? Votes and comments below, please…
Arsene Wenger’s reticence to ‘win ugly’ almost cost them dearly in the Ukraine last night, yet Captain Gallas saved the day with an all important equaliser.
Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo avoided a shower of boos (despite 57 per cent of Spoiler readers believing he should get a frosty reception) in a game that failed to produce any goals. chickendinner predicted it would be a draw - they’re clever boys, aren’t they?
Champions League, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2, Free £10 bet
Arsenal have lost on their last three trips to Ukraine, and have also failed to win their last three away games in Russia: the former Soviet Union is to Arsenal in Europe what the North West is to them domestically. Despite this, the bookies still make the Gunners favourites and chickendinner believe they will triumph tonight. Here’s why…
1. Arsenal have lost just two of their last 24 Champions League group matches.
2. The Gunners have won their opening group game in each of the last four seasons.
3. And in three of the last four seasons they have been victorious in their opening away game.
