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Arsenal will have their work cut out for them if they are to maintain their proud Champions League record.
Since the 1998/9 season, the Gunners have been ever-present in the lucrative group phase of the Champions League, but after finishing fourth in the Premier League last season, they have had to start in the play-off round.
They received arguably the worst-possible draw when they were pitted against Serie A club Udinese and a 1-0 victory in the home leg last week is anything but a comfortable lead to take to Italy for Wednesday's return.
The visitors, who slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home against Liverpool on the weekend, will welcome back Gervinho and Alexander Song from domestic suspensions for the Champions League game.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger must decide whether to use Samir Nasri in midfield against the Italian side. The French midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City and would be cup-tied should he play and Arsenal qualify for the group stages.
But Wenger said his first priority would be to lift his side's spirits after their loss to Liverpool.
"Wednesday night is a game of big importance for us," Wenger said.
"It is important for us to lift the players because they were very disappointed (after losing to Liverpool). We need to give them credit for their attitude and performance - in that game it is very harsh to lose it the way we did."
Arsenal and Udinese are two of 20 clubs competing for the 10 available places in the group stage.
Unlike Arsenal, most other favourites can go into Tuesday and Wednesday's return legs without too much worry.
French club Olympique Lyon beat Rubin Kazan 3-1 in the first leg and will fancy their chances on Wednesday, while former champions Bayern Munich take a 2-0 lead to FC Zurich for their game on Tuesday.
With millions at stake, Bayern players and officials have vowed not to underestimate their opponents. "There is one thing that one should not do in international football and that is underestimate an opponent," coach Jupp Heynckes said.
"But we will not be doing that," he said.
Captain Philipp Lahm added that they would be looking for a quick goal. "If we score early on, have our job will be done."
Czech champions Viktoria Plzen, who are campaigning in the competition for the first time and started in the second round of the play-offs, look likely to advance to the group stage on Wednesday after beating FC Copenhagen 3-1 in Denmark in the first leg.
Also sitting comfortably for a place in the next round ahead of their game on Tuesday are Dinamo Zagreb, after their 4-1 demolition of Malmo in their home leg.
Tuesday's other games are: Genk v Maccabi Haifa, Apoel Nicosia v Wisla Krakow and Odense BK against Villarreal. Remaining matches Wednesday are: BATE Borisov v Sturm Graz and Benfica Lisbon v Twente Enschede.
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الجمعة نوفمبر 12, 2021 6:09 am من طرف 
