And so to the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, the compact and intimidating home of Sevilla FC, for our third group stage game in this season’s Champions League.
Like Boca Juniors’ iconic ground on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, with which the near-43,000-seat, refurbished 1950s Sevilla stadium shares a nickname, La Bombonera, ‘the chocolate box’, the pitch is FIFA’s minimum allowed size, 106 x 68 metres (or 115 x 74 yards in old money). Steeply banked stands start close to the touchlines and reinforce the sense of confinement. They appear to hang over the pitch, especially the long, high-roofed stand that runs the length of one side and forms the open lid of the chocolate box, ready to unleash an avalanche of white-clad Sevilla ultras after every home goal.
We have visited once before, in November 2007, also for a Champions League group game that we lost 3-1, having won at the Emirates. We had already qualified for the knock-out rounds, and injuries forced a makeshift XI. At full strength, Sevilla duly got the point they needed to qualify too, but the three let them top the group.
‘A defeat against the other strong team in Group H, particularly given the make-up of the team, is not something I’ll be losing sleep over,’ the Guv’nor wrote with his habitual common sense, even as the sky fell in other corners of the Goonerverse.
Sevilla fell at the first knock-out hurdle, eliminated by Fenerbahce. The Europa League and its predecessor, the UEFA Cup, is more their thing. They have won it a record seven times, including last season and three times under Unai Emery, subsequently of this parish.
Vic Brits abroad
The presence of British expatriates among Europe’s mercantile classes in the late Victorian and Edwardian eras left an indelible mark on European football. Inter Milan, Genoa, Honved, Standard Liege, Athletic Bilbao, Bordeaux and even Bayern Munich are among the clubs where British expats played prominent roles in their founding.
Sevilla FC was founded in 1890 by Scots for the most part. Reputedly, the idea for a football club was born during a Burns Supper in 1890. Edward Farquharson Johnston, co-owner of a shipping line that carried Seville oranges to the marmalade factories of Dundee and the British vice-consul in the city, was the club’s first president, an office he occupied in parallel with the presidency of the Sevilla Pigeon-shooting Society.
Only nearby Huelva, now playing in the third tier of Spanish football and also founded by Scots, two engineers working in the local mines, is older, if by barely a month. In March 1890, the two teams contested the first club match in Spain. Sevilla won the game, played under FA rules, 2-0. Johnston refereed. No pigeons are known to have died.
By the by, the Scots also played a pivotal role in the history of marmalade, turning it from a paste-like preserve into a jam-like spread and moving it from the dinner to the breakfast table.
The Opposition
Sevilla has only been out of the top tier of La Liga for seven seasons since getting there in the 1930s. In the two decades since its last promotion, it has established itself as a top-half team, challenging, if not eclipsing, the giants of Barcelona and Madrid.
This season got off to a stuttering start under José Luis Mendilibar, appointed manager in March, with Sevilla at risk of relegation for the first time this century. Despite winning the Europa League in May, he got the tin-tack just before the interlull, with the team having won only two league games and drawn both their CL matches.
Mendilibar was an old-school coach with long success in getting a tune out of average players and keeping minnow La Liga clubs in mid-table security; the Europa Cup was his first trophy in three decades of coaching. However, his formula of doing the basics well and having his players run through brick walls for him came up short with the quality of players at his disposal in Sevilla.
His replacement, Uruguayan Diego Alonso, 48, has elite experience and is a more modern manager. He likes his teams to press high, be aggressive in transitions, play with quick interchanges and dominate through possession (sound familiar?). At his introductory press conference, he almost sounded like Arteta: ‘We have to focus…and take it game by game to develop our idea and our game. Preparation is even more important; you have to prepare well to play well and be ready for everything that comes.’ Only the ‘for sure’ was missing.
Alonso will be more familiar to followers of the game in the Americas than in Europe. He was most recently in charge of the Uruguay national side, turning around a team on the brink of failing to qualify for the Qatar World Cup. He quit after Uruguay did not progress from the group stage.
At club level, he has managed in his home country, Paraguay, Mexico and the United States, where he was Inter Miami’s first coach. He had the most success in Mexico, being the first manager to win the CONCACAF Champions League with two clubs, Pachuca and Monterrey.
While this is the 48-year-old’s first coaching job in Europe, he played for several Spanish clubs. He was part of the Atletico Madrid side that won promotion from La Liga 2 in 2002 and was the division’s top scorer. A peripatetic playing career included his homeland, Argentina, Mexico and China. His uncle, Daniel, played a handful of games for Sevilla in the mid-1970s.
Alonso has had one game in charge at his new club, a visit from Real Madrid on Saturday evening, hardly the debut a manager would wish for. Nonetheless, Sevilla considered the 1-1 draw two points dropped rather than one gained, having outplayed the league leaders for long spells with a high-energy performance. Hopefully, that takes care of the new manager bounce.
Old Familiar Faces
There may be some familiar faces on show against us, none less so than Sergio Ramos, the veteran Real Madrid and Spain centre-back, now 37 and back at his boyhood club. Ex-blue Manc right-back Jesus Navas, who played in the 2007 game, is another 37-year-old World Cup winner who has similarly returned to his Andalusian roots. He is club captain. Ex-red Manc Adnan Januzaj and ex-Spud Erik Lamela, lately returned from injury, are younger but will also be familiar names, as is Boubakary Soumare, on loan from Leicester.
Alonso has plenty more talent at his disposal: top-scorer this season, Youssef En-Nesyri, is a much-capped Moroccan striker; wingers Dodi Lukebakio and Lucas Ocampo are Belgian and Argentine internationals; attacking midfielder Ivan Rakitic has 106 Croatian caps; DM, Djibril Sow, newly arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt, is a Swiss international. Nemanja Gudelj has more than 50 caps for Serbia. His rival to partner Ramos at centre-back, 23-year-old Loïc Bade, was William Saliba’s cover in the French side at the 2021 U-21 Euros. Left-back Marcos Acuña has more than 50 Argentina caps. Ørjan Nyland is Norway’s first-choice keeper.
Like many South American coaches, Alonso favours 4-4-2. However, he mutated Mendilibar’s preferred 4-2-3-1 into a 4-3-3 against Madrid, with Sow and Soumare starting as a double pivot ahead of an experienced back four all over 30. Expect something similar against us.
The Arsenal
Arteta will likely play a strong side after the setback in Lens. Defeat could leave us bottom of the group at the halfway stage if PSV wins at Lens and facing a mountain to climb. A point is the bare minimum, but we need to take all three to get back on track.
Although I write ahead of Arteta’s pre-match press conference, we seem to have come through the Chelsea game unscathed. I fancy Havertz for Jorginho will be our only change. Tomi for Zinchenko and Ramsdale for Raya are possibilities, but what do I know?. Thus:
Raya
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko
Ødegaard, Rice, Havertz
Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
The ‘Holic Pound
This will be a tough match on a cramped pitch in a daunting atmosphere. Sevilla will be difficult to stretch and smother. They don’t often lose European home games.
Given the current scandals around player betting, I will eschew the usual survey of the odds on offer. Suffice it to say, I expect our away defence to rediscover their hard centres at La Bombonera after the ooey-gooey errors at the Bus Stop and the team to deliver a classic if hard-fought 1-0 to the Arsenal.
Enjoy the game, ‘holics, far and wide.
Thanks NBN for the typically fantastic preview. I will comment later.
Copying over my comment for the last post as it was already closed.
————————
Thanks everyone for the kind words.
Trev & others make great points about the refereeing decisions. I guess many of us Arsenal fans have by now become so used to decisions going against us noticeably more often than not, a degree of apathy about these clear biases have set in. The web of corruption masquerading as incompetence is a blight and shame on English football.
NBN — completely agree with Ødegaard being wasted having to play so deep. Yes he has the energy and work rate and enthusiasm but that doesn’t mean we will have to spend it on aspects of the game where other roles are more naturally suited. His starting position should be much ahead … he hast started scoring goals and creating assists at a very high rate last season, often staying on a close triangle with Saka and Martinelli. Lately he is dropping deeper and deeper in pursuit of midfield control.
A fine preview Ned. Games like this show there is no coasting in the Champions league and full strength sides must be selected. I would make two changes to your team. I would bring in Ramsdale for Raya and Partey for Havertz.
Lots of Gooners are making this a multi day trip to this fine Andalusian city. Let’s hope they get a result which makes them enjoy their cervesa and tapas.
Come on you Gunners!
What a terrific preview Ned . Very much in the style of the Guvna ( can there be a greater compliment ?) You outline the quality of their squad and their recent playing history very well.
After the superb start against PSV I started to get a bit complacent about CL qualification ( as did several other blogs) but the Lens result changed that . We have to play considerably better to get anything from a team who can outplay Real Madrid and a draw would be a very decent result given that we have two games left at home and travel to a side we beat 4-0. We MUST avoid going back to Thursday night football. It would hamper our title challenge and be a big blow to morale.
I like C100’s team suggestion . Havertz is a luxury player and would be a waste in Seville . I’d go with a double pivot of Partey and Rice and push Odegaard forward a bit more . I’d also like to see us swap wings with our wide men from time to time to upset the other team’s defensive set-up . I’d also bring back Ramsdale who will be very keen to outline his quality . I’d also play Tomi instead of Zinchenko . I think later this season we may see Trossard starting as a false 9 or Martinelli moving into the centre with the Belgian out wide but I’m not sure tomorrow is the right time .
I fear for us tomorrow and hope that we can get at least a draw . It will be very tough
As fine and distinguished a preview as everyone else has said, and a wonderful history lesson about the marmalade loving Scots’ role in the foundation of football in Andalucia. Many thanks Ned, it certainly sounds like you know La Bombonera. We could use a top drawer performance after that load of drivel at the bus stop. I like the idea of bringing in Tomi and Rambo. COYG
And a seconding of Dr. F’s criticism of the referees @1. Corruption is not too harsh a charge in light of the inexplicable ineptitude.
Vivianne Miedema upon her long anticipated return from injury to the Arsenal team:
“Sometimes we do things on auto pilot, everything becomes normal and we won’t appreciate the moments we should.
“The one thing I learned in this rehab is that I do need to enjoy milestones, special moments and even little steps a lot more. It’s like I’ve never been away.”
Well done the rehab!
You lost me at the marmalade reference, Ned. Devastated you couldn’t work in a reference to Journalism and Jute. Great preview. Very tough game on the immediate horizon. Three points would really set the heather alight.
Quite coincidentally, I’m in Dundee right now – but I suspect the monks had already alerted you to my whereabouts?
Top notch preview, Ned. Truly the monks have been labouring over their parchments during the interlull. I’d take a draw right now ahead of tomorrow. I’d be happy to see the team above but with Ramsdale and Tomiyasu in. Quite honestly I think our participation in the CL is for experience only this season. All our eggs need to be gathered in the PL winning basket where we have a real chance if we can get back to anywhere near our form of last season.
That’s an excellent and very informative read, Ned. As CER observes, the monks have expended a shedload of candlewax while pouring over parchments covering the history of Sevilla.
Like several others, I would start Tomi rather than Zinnie and Partey in a double pivot for security rather than Havertz, planning to follow the GG Anfield ’89 approach – keep it tight for an hour then go for it, adding Havertz, Trossard and ESR if an injection of fresh energy is required.
1-0 to the Arsenal would do nicely. A draw would be the minimum acceptable. We must not lose!
NBN, continuing from my comments @1: …and as always a superbly informative historical overview of the football in these parts.
I love Sevilla the city, which wears its unique Andalusian heritage, including its Moorish past, proudly in music, architecture, culture, food. However, if I may, Sevilla FC may even be the second most supported club in the city proper, the proud Real Betis (Betis is the Roman name of Guadalquivir river) followers flying their Andalusian green-and-white would at least claim that. 🙂 The Betis-Seville “El Gran Derby” is the most intense of the intra-city rivalries … Arsenal has had connections on both sides of the divide — Reyes came through the ranks in Sevilla, whereas Bellerin identifies with his paternal roots with Real Betis and had formed a real connection with the fans in his season there. …
Cramped ground or not, ultras screaming or not, Mikel’s away record at Europe has been less than mediocre as the Arsenal manager. The loss against Lens was not as much a surprise to me. The perfection and excellence he demands from the squad can sometimes go missing from his own tactical set-up and game plan in matches such as this. This is a crunch match at the group stage — if we are to establish ourselves as a meaningful presence in the CL — and whereas a draw is minimum, a win is something that we should be well capable of.
I agree with those who feel Ramsdale and Tomiyasu should start. If Partey is still not fit enough to start, Rice should still play at the base and Zinchenko then can play the left sided number 8, not Havertz. And ESR coming on as a sub later in that role.
Come on Arsenal!
Another factoid to add to Ned’s extremely well researched preview:
Sevilla have the oldest starting XI in the Champions League tournament, with an average age of 30 years and 341 days; and Arsenal the fifth youngest at 25 years and 154 days. Here’s hoping that works to our advantage.
Here is the link with the predicted teams (presumably) used to make that calculation. I would have copied those teams here but it seems to be rudely preventing me.
https://www.directvsports.com/amp/futbol/Sevilla-vs-Arsenal-por-la-tercera-fecha-de-la-UEFA-Champions-League-alineaciones-cuando-donde-y-como-ver-20231023-0037.html
Thanks Ned for an interesting preview as usual,
A draw is not fatal but a win is really required as others have already noted.
1-0 will do.
UTA.
Ned has updated the Predictathon – check it out by clicking the GHF Contests tab at top right.
Cheers Ned!
Hard centres, Ned ? That was a work of art packed with hard facts – and the history of marmalade explained too ! Marmalavellous !
I’m with Bath on team selection – Tomiyasu has earned a start and Thomas Partey instead of Jorginho or Havertz for me. And for various reasons, Aaron Ramsdale between the sticks, please.
Ramos vs Jesus could be a feisty encounter and I hope someone has taken out extra shin pads for Bukayo Saka.
We have the youth and pace to get Seville on the turn in this one, so please let not the
U-bend of Distraction lead to the Downpipe of Death – as I hope someone might have once said on I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue – given the circumstance ……..
Re: Ned’s predictathon update, which says “This week’s bad smell emits overwhelmingly from the other end of the Seven Sisters Road.”
Is this different from any other week in that respect?
Thanks for the kind words, all. Seville is a wonderful city. Travelling Gooners should have a commensurately wonderful time there, doubly so if the result goes the right way.
bt8@11: I can’t see all three of Ramos, Navas and Ratikic not starting in a game that it is even more important for Sevilla not to lose than it is for us, although I can see Jaunlu Sanchez being deployed at right back against Martinelli rather than the 17-years-older legs of Navas; he is a Spanish U-21 international and highly regarded.
Dr F. @10 Real Betis’s Scottish connection is that one of its (Spanish) founders had studied in Scotland and got Celtic to send him some of the green and white fabric it used for its shirts, but had Betis’s shirts run up as stripes rather than hoops.
bt8@18: 🙂
…er…bt8@16…
Partey would appear to be broken.
Tomi for Zinchenko is the only change from the Bus Stop.
Bill Kenwright has died. RIP.
Kenwright always struck me as a decent bloke and a true football fan. Sadly he’s had a terrible couple of years with such vitriol from some Everton fans that he hasn’t attended a home game for about a year. He was a huge Everton fan, invested a lot of his own money in the club and became Chairman. He was kept on as chairman by the new buyers primarily to be someone they could hide behind. Recognising that he wasn’t minted enough to make Everton competitive he had eventually sold the club to Usmanov’s stooge who pissed away millions, changed managers faster than underwear and is now desperately trying to sell the club to some Merkin grifters…not the Sussexes, other grifters. (A couple of bullets dodged by Arsenal thanks to Kroenke’s intransigence.). On the basis of their record, I don’t see Everton’s new prospective buyers being the salvation of that grand old club.
Great, informative report Ned. Seville one of my favourite European cities. Let’s hope tonight’s performance result doesn’t taint that.
COYRRR
Super attack, should be 1 up.
Great break out. Martinelli should have feinted to put the keeper down before he shot.
Bloke pulling Martinelli back should have been booked
Get out of the way, referee
Third foul on Saka so far by Acuna. 18 mins.
Another half chance. Come on, you Gunners
We look capable of scoring here but that final ball is eluding us…..so far.
Good idea. Piss poor execution.
2 very evenly matched teams largely cancelling each other out this half. Although we’ve still had the best chance.
Referee, when he hasn’t been walking into passing lanes, has been average.
They really should have scored……
Wow.
Gabii to Gabi to Gabi…..
That’ll teach you for kicking him, you onion selling fascist scum. Now it’s your turn, Saka.
hey, all. it’s been a while since i’ve posted here, missed commenting on many a great post (but always reading!). ned’s above is excellent, and we definitely have showed evidence of a hard center this first half. our defense has been excellent, though raya has spewed some rancid passes that could have cost us.
the goal was great, and deserved, and what a move by jesus, to get free to pass to gabigol. i was impressed by everyone in our team, even quiet martin, excellent effort from everyone, not a passenger in sight. tomi, saliba, and gabi tops for me so far; this might be tomi’s coming-out party as zinchenko-san.
anyway, hope everyone’s been well, and i hope to be back more here in the coming weeks. life has a way of slapping you around, and i’m starting to slap back 🙂
Good to see you back, scruz.
Tomi has been colossal this half – a decent effort at their near post, a constant availability for an out ball or a linking pass and a very important late challenge to prevent a clean shot at our goal.
Hey Scruz,
I think Tomi is there for his athleticism tonight – to ensure the raking crossfield passes don’t reach the right wing and to cover as much ground as possible, I think he has been excellent.
Wow II
Not so good.
“Arsenal concede from another set piece “ says the female commentator on TNT. When was the last one? Is she trying to set up competition for Michael Owen in the Worst Pundit on TV competition?
that was impressive, even as it was nerve wracking. hopefully the bangs and bruises heal and we’ll be in good shape for the weekend.
tomi my MOTM. immense performance. rice a close second, he seemed to be everywhere all the time. great goals, both made by jesus, that second was just sublime.
raya? where’s ramsdale, damn it. i really don’t understand why he’s playing, given the number of mistakes he makes. maybe they’re lower-cost mistakes, but maybe we’ve just been lucky.
COYG!
Huge.
Welcome back, Scruz. A good trip, I trust.
A few more heart flutters towards the end than strictly necessary (yes, we’re looking at you David Raya0 but the team held at bay a side that more than gave Real Madrid a game at the weekend, and battled through the end-phase when the lead had to be defended. When the group stage draw was made, this was pencilled in as the hardest game of the group, so taking all three points is none too shabby. We’re top of the group thanks to PSV drawing in Lens. No gimme games in the CL The whole team played well but special plaudits for Salibra and Gabriel, Tomi and Declan Rice. Jesus produced two moments of pure magic. And they say he can’t finish.
Job done.
Jesus MotM for two sublime contributions but Rice gets a share for covering every blade of grass and stiffening that left flank.
Big win.
On to the Bllades.
Hard centres? It appears that there were no bonbons to be seen.
>>>>>>>