An improvised team are being thrust onto the main stage this evening and unsurprisingly, it’s not a sell out. Arsenal fans are becoming increasingly reluctant to spend their hard earned money on increased ticket prices when much needed investment in the team has not been forthcoming despite our well publicised financial strength.

Arsene Wenger, Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri are all banned for this evening’s Champions League qualifier with Udinese after the unsavoury way that Barcelona eliminated us from last year’s competition. Cesc Fabregas has finally completed his transfer back to the European champions and the Catalans have had a huge and unwelcome impact on the future of our club.

Failure to qualify would seal Samir Nasri’s departure and would also unsettle Robin van Persie. The Dutchman’s injury record means that a demand to leave Arsenal would be an insult to our perseverance with him but given his advancing years, it would not be a surprise if we were not competing in Europe’s top competition. Arguably it would also be the beginning of the end for Arsene Wenger.

An important game then but one in which we will be relying on a clutch of players who we have never been able to rely on in the past. One positive at the club at the moment was the defensive performance on Saturday. Albeit Newcastle did not provide the biggest test but Vermaelen reminded us of his composure and Koscielny suggested that he is continuing to develop into a good defender, despite a tortuous end to last season. With the ever-dependable Sagna and the promising Gibbs, there could be a solid unit forming in front of Wojciech Sczcesny.

An impending domestic ban for Gervinho and a likely ban for Song will not apply to European competition but a groin strain suffered by Tomas Rosicky could leave us very light in the centre of the park. Jack Wilshere is also injured and if Rosicky doesn’t recover the most likely replacement appears to be Emmanuel Frimpong who could form a formidable shield with Alex Song but is seriously lacking in first team experience. Aaron Ramsey has yet to reach the heights he hit before his injury and a front three of Arshavin, Chamakh and Gervinho promises much but certainly cannot be relied upon.

Udinese have also had a troubled pre-season though, losing their star player Alexis Sanchez to Barcelona and his former partner in crime, the prolific Di Natale, could well cut a more isolated figure this season after smashing in 28 goals last term. We should still win this tie on paper but a disgruntled home crowd who have taken to verbalising their concerns during matches have started to become more of a hindrance than a help. This is a crucial week for Arsenal and for a number of reasons, the team is very badly prepared. This make shift squad needs all the help they can get from those that can afford tickets to limp through August unscathed and qualify for Europe’s elite competition in order for the club to attract the high calibre signings that we need. Otherwise we face a possibly irreversible slide into expensive mediocrity.

Photo: Action Images

Arsenal Polls