Gooner Talk

Arsenal faced a tough trip to Kiev, somewhere they have been before on many occassions yet never come out of with a win.

But with 11 goals in the Gunners last three matches the team were on a high as they kicked off their Champions League campaign.

Dinamo Kiev Starting XI

Bogush
Betao – Diakhate – Mykhalyk – Nesmachniy
Vukojevic – Yussuf – Yeremenko – Aliev
Ninkovic – Bangoura

Arsenal Starting XI

Almunia
Sagna – Toure – Gallas – Clichy
Walcott- Fabregas – Song – Denilson
Adebayor – van Persie

Read the rest of this entry »

Arsenal midfielder Alexander Song has been drafted into the starting line-up ahead of tonights Champions League group stage tie against Dynamo Kyiv.

The versatile Cameroonian replaces Emmanuel Eboue – who sustained a knock in the 4-0 triumph over Blackburn on Saturday – and should ‘bulk’ up what looks like a physically weak midfield.

Gunners’ boss Arsene Wenger starts with an unchanged side other than Song’s inclusion. Teenage sensations Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere make up an inexperienced bench, but a strong performance is expected from the eleven that start.

Confirmed Starting XI:

Almunia
Sagna – Toure – Gallas – Clichy
Walcott- Fabregas – Song – Denilson
Adebayor – van Persie

Subs:

Fabianski (GK), Vela, Ramsey, Wilshere, Djourou, Bendtner

Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Eboue could miss Wednesday’s Champions League group stage match at Dinamo Kiev after sustaining seperate injuries during this afternoons 4-0 rout against Blackburn.

Both players were victim to kicks from Rovers’ players with the latter winning a penalty after being brought down in the box by Stephen Warnock.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports:

“They [Clichy & Eboue] will be assessed when we get back. It’s not looking too good for either of them” said the 58-year-old Frenchman.

Wednesday’s game is likely to be a difficult contest in Ukraine, with Kiev looking for an scalp in the early stages of UEFA Champions League competition.

You can read our match report, along with player ratings from todays match, here.