The Dark Forces v Arsenal: a preview of Marseille « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News, supporting the club, the players and the manager

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By Tony Attwood

Ah, Marseille, the darkest of dark forces.  One of the clubs that helped give rise to the legend that match fixing happens in funny foreign places but not in dear old England.

Their president, Bernard Tapie, bribed three Valenciennes players (the club of which Boro Primoracto was coach) to throw a league match in 1993. Tapie was later jailed and Marseille were stripped of the title.

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In fact it was quite similar to the Manchester United / Liverpool match fixing scandal of the 1914/5 first division season in England, as a result of which Chelsea were relegated.  But of course this is England, so after the official  enquiry which found both Liverpool and Man U guilty of throwing the match the clubs got no fine, no one went to jail, no one was thrown out of the league, although Chelsea were reprieved and allowed to stay in the first division.   That of course is the English way of doing things.

As for Marseilles Mr Wenger has contended that his club Monaco also suffered at the hands of Tapie and made a reference to it after last season’s incredibly bent Euro campaign (remember Vela being done in Portugal for diving rather than getting a penalty – which would have ensured we avoided Barca in the next round, and of course Van Persie’s sending off v Barca.  Match fixing?  Well, no of course not.  Doesn’t happen does it).

Indeed of his time in Monaco Mr Wenger said, “We fought against people who didn’t use regular methods,” Wenger has said. “I am sure we would have won more titles in normal circumstances.”

And as the most recent findings from our regular referee reviews show, it was ever thus.

So onto today.  The Velodrome is being redecorated so doesn’t get the full capacity, and as the last commentary on France yesterday showed, the club are not doing too well in the league.  But they are top of the group in the Champs League.

André Santos is at left‑back, and it looks like Aaron Ramsey returns to the middle which gives us

Szcznesy

Jenkinson Mertesacker Koscielny Santos

Song Arteta

Ramsey

Walcott Van Persie Arshavin

I thought Koscielny played well on Sunday, and when Vermaelen returns we will have three centre backs in good form which is a novelty for recent times.

I also felt that Arshavin was really bubbling away when he came on, and I am not sure Gervinho has got the whole feel of the team yet, so I’d give him (Arshavin) a run. (I have to add though that I sit just to one side of the goal we attack in the second half in most games, in the upper tier, which is a perfect position to watch Arshavin in the second half, so maybe my viewpoint leads to bias).

(Incidentally, returning to the centre back issue, Squillaci and Miquel was the centre back pairing for the reserves yesterday, which leave Djourou as our spare central defender for tonight’s match).

Who else?

AOC has had an incredible start to his campaign, and I saw that Young Guns Blog on their Tweets was highly critical of Mr Wenger for not including him on Sunday – especially after his three goals for the under 21s.   But young players can get blown away by a couple of duff games as fast as they can rise up quickly on the back of some brilliant performances, and Alex needs to be managed.  I’d like to see him play some part in the game, but he hasn’t travelled.  He is a possibility on the bench for Sunday and certain to play in the league cup game next week.

I’d also like to see Ryo get a chance.  He didn’t play for the reserves last night, and he has been in the team of late.  I don’t know if he travelled – maybe he’ll be like AOC and get into the Bolton match but not this one.  On the other hand if we go 4-0 up early on he could have a little jog on the pitch for a while in this match.

Rosicky, Park, Frimpong, Chamakh, Coquelin and Benayoun should be lurking around on the bench, I guess along with Gervinho.   But I am a little hampered here by the fact that I can’t remember how many subs you can name for a Champs League match, and my lunch break is nearly over so I must post this.

But you’ll correct all my mistakes as usual, won’t you?

Oh, and just in case you are interested and didn’t catch it, here’s the team that played for the reserves last night…

Vito Mannone

Nico Yennaris  Sebastien Squillaci  Ignasi Miquel  Jernade Meade

Chuks Aneke  Craig Eastmond  Oguzhan Ozyakup

Kyle Ebecilio     Luke Freeman  Sanchez Watt

Which ones will we really see in the first team this season?  I’d go for Miquel, Eastmond (unless on loan) Freeman, and Watt.   But still, what do I know?

Have fun tonight.  It’s on ITV.  Best turn the sound off.

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