We All Live In A Yellow Submarine

Villarreal are Arsenal's next opponents in the Champions League, with The Gunners hoping to be the first British side to beat them this season. Having disposed of Everton 4 - 2 on aggregate in the Final Qualifying Round, they were drawn in the same Group as Manchester United. Rooney's dismissal in El Madrigal during the opening round of matches in that stage ensured that a goalless draw was their just reward. They repeated this result at Old Trafford to ensure their qualification from the Group and were subsequently paired with Rangers. Having been disappointed with a 2 - 2 draw at Ibrox, when their performance deserved a slender lead, they looked to be heading out of the competition until the second half equaliser ensured their progress on Away Goals.

Lumped into the "weakest" in the competition group by the media - along with Arsenal, I hasten to add - at the draw for the first knockout phase, they have performed solidly at home and surprised Internazionale by taking a very early lead at the San Siro. That Diego Forlan goal was the reason they progressed having won the return 1 - 0 this week to again progress on Away Goals. And this is what Arsenal will need to be wary of - the Away Goal. The first leg at Highbury in a fortnight's time will ideally be won by 2 - 0. In fact, anything with a "0" in the Villarreal column will be fine. They have proven difficult to beat in this years competition, their only defeat being at the San Siro, and their home form exemplary. Of the six matches at El Madrigal, they have only conceded three goals - Everton, Benfica and Rangers breaching their defence - winning 3 and drawing the remainder. Away from home, they have won twice, drawn three and lost one. Arsenal will not have been upset at progressing to meet them, given the choice of remaining semi-finalists, but it is not a tie that can be taken for granted with plenty of hard work to be done to ensure progress to the club's first Champions League final.

The La Liga fixtures have given Arsenal a boost in terms of seeing Villarreal in action against formidable opposition. This Sunday they will entertain Deportivo La Coruna, who are one place and one point better off than El Submarino Amarillo. The following weekend they travel to the Camp Nou in a match that allows Arsenal's scouts to kill two birds with one stone. Domestically, they are in a worse position than Arsenal, currently lying eighth with little chance of making the Champions League via a top four finish. Indeed, should they fail to win the Champions League then they are, at best, aining to directly qualify for the UEFA Cup but possibly in the InterToto Cup.

In many ways, the fixture list in the lead up to the First Leg is ideal. Still on a high from last nights result, the journey to Old Trafford on Sunday will be a perfect way to keep the momentum going. I would not expect many, if any, changes unless the players are knackered or injured. Sol Campbell is expected to return to the side over the coming three games but whether or not this is a permanent return to the team will depend on the player that returns. If it is the solid Centre Half, intent on playing himself back into World Cup contention then Senderos unfortunately will be unlikely to re-appear regularly this season. If it is the bewildered tramp who played against West Ham, then Campbell will be finished at Arsenal with his England career similarly over. It will be a high pressure return for him, more likely against Portsmouth in the middle of next week than into the mix on Sunday. Perhaps he will be brought on for forty five minutes in that game with a full ninety against West Brom on Easter Saturday. Much will be dependant on those one hundred and thirty five minutes and should Campbell not be fully mentally focussed, then I genuinely fear for Campbell's career which ought to have at least another two years beyond the end of this season. Indeed, it is imperative that he recovers to allow the squad sufficient cover, for should Toure pick up a booking in either of the Villarreal matches he will be banned for the next game. It would be less than ideal to face the second leg or potentially the final without either of our most experienced centre halves. Similarly, Ashley Cole's return to the fray is timely. Flamini's caution last night means that he treads the same tightrope as Toure which would leave the left side of defence very exposed. Cole is expected back in the next ten days which equates to him being available for the Second Leg or at worst the final visit of the Tiny Tots to THOF.

The FA have whittled down the shortlist for Sven's replacement to "3 or 4 names". It is believed that the only foreigner to make that list is Martin O'Neill. The other names are subject to conjecture but I would guess at Curbishley, Pearce and McLaren. But what of Big Sam? Well, in the same way that Middlesbrough's implosion at the start of this process seemed to have damaged McLaren's chances, it appears that Bolton's dip in form has cost Allardyce his chance. Allied to the fact that the FA have always erred away from asking "opinionated" managers to become Chief Of National Side. In fact this whole process has been one of the biggest CONS ever pulled. It has been a farcical process in cosy chats, perceived subterfuge and poor PR. It would never have happened in the "Good Old Days". Pull the candidates in for an interview, appoint manager; A simple two step process. Quite why Blustering Brian need to go and chat over tea with the potential CONS is beyond me. And more to the point, this is his little baby. As he has overseen the approval process, if it goes tits up as it normally does with England, will he have the good grace to resign as FA Chief Executive? After all, he has failed to deliver the Burns Report - maybe a media tycoon as the head of English Football was not the brightest of appointments, more a job for the boy.

Todays Tunes are by an unknown band! If anyone can shed light on the artistes in question, then I will happily take that on board. Anyway enough drivel. These two were passed onto me on the basis that they are New Order demos from the mid - 1980's, which the person in question has said in good faith. Personally, I am unconvinced. For sure, the vocalist is not Barney Sumner although it could be Peter Hook or Stephen Morris. More likely, they are one of any number of bands influenced by New Order. As I said, any further info gratefully received.

Love Dances 1

Love Dances 2