ARSENAL FC v. SEVILLA CF

Julio Romo
 
Arsenal visit a Sevilla team on Tuesday that¹s lost its way since Juande
Ramos decamped to the wrong end of the Seven Sisters Road.  Victories
against Real Madrid and Steaua Bucharest cannot hide the fact that they sit
10th in La Liga after recent losses to Ateltico Madrid, Bobby Pires¹
Villareal and Mallorca.
 
After winning the UEFA Cup twice they now find themselves in the Champions
League for the first time, where they have been living up to their
reputation of playing a very technical game.  But after the loss of Ramos
and the tragic death of Antonio Puerta earlier this season the squad has
been faltering.  However, they are a team that has the talent to outplay
anybody.  Players like Kanoute, Luis Fabiano and Alves can turn on the
style, yet the latter two are likely to miss the game after picking up
injuries during the international break.
 
Sevilla has only lost one game in Europe ever at home and that was against
AZ Alkmaar last season in the UEFA Cup, which they went onto win.
 
Arsenal will be travelling to Sevilla with the rested Fabregas, who missed
the victory against Wigan through suspension. Van Persie and Hleb will also
be absent with Walcott needing tests before the trip.  Our play will have to
be made by Fabregas and Rosicky with Eduardo, who continued to shine with
Croatia, and Bendtner battling for a start alongside Adebayor upfront.
 
The winners on Tuesday will be sending out a signal of intent which will be
heard throughout Europe.  Wenger¹s men or Jimenez¹s squad will be taking a
giant step towards Moscow.
 
The travelling support will be visiting the fourth most followed club in La
Liga, who are known to create an intense and intimidating atmosphere when it
is needed.  The fact that Reyes moved from the club to Arsenal will be all
the more significant, even though he is now playing for Atletico, a club
that beat Sevilla this season.
 
In fact the support for Arsenal grew to such an extent after the transfer of
Reyes that Sevilla supporters travelled to Madrid to see Fabregas and Reyes¹
Arsenal beat the Galacticos.  Having said this they will be expecting their
Brazilian players to turn on the quality and not loose face against an
Arsenal whose football has respect and following in Spain.
 
The Sevilla faithful are sure to welcome Gooners to the city and the Sanchez
Pizjuan stadium.  The travelling support will need to continue being vocal
and show Sevilla that travelling support is there to make a difference.
 
Los Gooners vienen a ganar (The Gooners come to win).