Our record in the Ukraine hasn’t been all that auspicious. It’s a difficult place to go as winter creeps in.
Dynamo Kyiv were our first Ukrainian opponents in 1998. These were the days of playing at Wembley to allow more people in and swell the coffers that bit more. It was a dreadful idea as virtually all home advantage was lost. Kiev (as we called them in those days) had Shevchenko and Rebrov, which also didn’t help! We drew at home and then lost 3-1 away in November. (This was before Rebrov disgraced himself by going to the spuds, coming 12th and 9th before going on loan to Fenerbahce).
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In 2003 we again lost away but sneaked a 1-0 home win at Highbury with a late Ashley Cole goal. Kiev were drawn in our group for the third time in 2008. We managed to sneak a 1-1 draw in the Valery Lobanovskiy Stadium thanks to a very late Billy G equaliser and sneaked the home tie when Lord Bendtner popped up with an 87th minute winner.
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Against Shakhtar Donetsk in September 2000 at Highbury, I was proud to witness one of my favourite ever live games. Losing 2-0 early on, Wiltord gave us hope on the stroke of half time slotting in the rebound from a missed penalty. The last ten minutes will live long in the memory as Martin Keown popped up with two goals (one which appeared to be off his arm) to snatch victory at the death. Must have been his only brace ever. I smiled all the way home to Notts. The less said about the 3-0 away defeat in November the better.
We romped past Shakhtar in October 2010 5-1 at the Emirates featuring goals from the FFBW, a Cesc penalty and a Chamakh special before again losing away 2-1 in November. (Eduardo, our Brazilian Croatian ex-player, scored in both legs but shunned any goal celebrations)
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There’s a theme developing here. The later in the year you play away in the Ukraine, the harder it is to come away with a point. A proliferation of gloves and too many thermal layers probably doesn’t help.
Still all trends are there to be broken, starting on Thursday.
Update on Thursday’s game
Russian aggression towards the Ukraine appears to be escalating and in response the Ukrainian government has declared martial law. President Petro Poroshenko has said the implementation ‘aims to prevent an all-out Russian invasion’.
A statement from Uefa read: “The emergency panel has today taken the decision to relocate FC Vorskla’s Europa League group stage match against Arsenal from the city of Poltava, following the introduction of martial law into certain regions in Ukraine.
“Uefa will continue to monitor and assess the security situation in Ukraine in the coming days before making any decision on potentially relocating other matches.”
Up to 500 Arsenal fans were expected to travel to the game in Poltava and now must make alternative arrangements, with the decision coming less than 48 hours before the scheduled start time, which remains unchanged. (17:55pm)
chas
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Morning All,
“I heard that the petition to have Harry Maguire riding on the back of an inflatable unicorn on the £50 had more signatures.” 😀
Cheers Chas
And talking of Cashley, who will he choose, go to join Terry at the Villa and get stuck in to the Championship. Or take the 💰 and the sun and pair up with Thierry?
Whatever, please don’t let any AAer suggest he come back to us!!
Analysis of Freddie’s team on Monday, suggests a good number of youngsters in on Thurs. Type of game that produces a new young hero.
Fine work chas. GN5’esque.
I was at that Wembley game in ’98. Chilly night, best suited to the Ukrainians, and what a forward line they had. Shev went in his dotage to Chelsea whereas Rebrov ate away his caerer in WHL kebab shops. But when we played them, they were just fantastic.
Completely forgotten the Keown brace. We had a long celebration in the 12 Pins after the game which may explain the memory loss
Looking through photos of us against Kiev or Shakhtar, I was struck by how many players there are who used to play for us that I can barely look at anymore.
Cashley, Nasri, Adebayor, Brave Sir Robin, William Gallas to name but a few.
Yuck!
Morning folks, Keown 2 goals, wow that didn’t happen often.
Thanks again chas … you’re doing an amazing job.
I loved the clip of the 2 Keown goals.
My main hope for Thursday is that we rest key players and come back without any significant injuries.
Just a question for a few of the folks who actually travel to these far away locations: if there is a change in venue on short notice are you compensated with your travel arrangements and costs? Or does the corporation just expect the travelling fans to eat it?
Expect no one starting against spuds to be playing in this game.
Will keep on eye on the game nonetheless.
I’ve just listening to the talk on the radio about safety concerns over this game …. It’s shocking that it hasn’t been called off by now …
So Aaron, you were saying you didn’t want to stay at Arsenal, well here’s a little trip to Siberia for ya, enjoy……..
That really is a good squad, should be an interesting game now, and we will have a fresher team to play spuds on Sunday. Nice one Unai.
Am not happy to see Holding named. Need him healthy for spuds and manure. AMN will probably be playing, but like to see him ready to go too.
Interesting squad. I thought Ramsey would start on Sunday.
Morning All,
Horrible weather here. Lashing it down with rain, gale force winds. Very cold.
Ideal time to spend an hour on the Pre-match of a match which may not go ahead.
6.49. The Good Old Days before that poncey stuff like covered stands, seats, TV screens, DJ’s etc
Joke of the morning. Talking about mobile phones, Ali Mccoist asks Alan Brazil if his phone has face recognition…….” because if it does, it deserves its own medal!”
LBG. Both Scots. Both forwards. Both a-holes.
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