Moscow unpredictable but a draw may be OK



By Myles Palmer

A DRAW in Moscow might be acceptable, given the absence of Vieira and Ljungberg.

Arsene said yesterday that big players at big clubs have to cope with all the pressures.

He has placed his faith in Robert Pires, one of the finest players he has ever worked with.

Not having seen Lokomotiv Moscow in the way that I have seen Inter Milan, it is impossible to guess how strong they might be in a now-or-never game like this.

Lokomotiv have a very poor record in the Champions League and continued that when they lost 2-0 in Kiev two weeks ago.

But they have three of Russia’s current back four.

If they follow the Koeman-Capello tactical template from last season – defending deep and narrow – then Lokomotiov may be able to frustrate Arsenal and prevent them from scoring.

We shall soon know.

5.30 will come soon enough.

ROB HUGHES warned me about Bobby Robson’s risky squad.

So I mentioned the bad boys here last week.

I wrote this :

BOBBY ROBSON brings Newcastle to Highbury on Friday night.

Bobby managed Romario at PSV and thinks that he can manage bad boys.But he now collects them.

A team with three players as volatile as Robert, Dyer and Bellamy should not sign Bowyer and Woodgate, surely?

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30th September : James Dean died on this day in 1955 at 24.

Dean was driving a Porsche.

Porsche drivers : take it easy today!