Arsenal v Lokomotiv Moscow Highbury, 7.45Arsenal often seem persecuted by their own Champions League ambitions and, against Lokomotiv Moscow this evening, the side will once more have to cope with dreams that had seemed lost.
After just one point from the first three fixtures, the players began to recover only when they found themselves in the seclusion of the Group B cellar. The darkness of fourth place seems to have been soothing.
With nothing expected of them any more, they beat Dynamo Kiev with Ashley Cole's 88th-minute goal before scuttling Internazionale 5-1 in Italy. By recapturing the form shown in Milan they would certainly prevail tonight, but the pressure is on them once more and the do-or-die mental climate of the San Siro will be difficult to recreate at Highbury.
Arsene Wenger's team may fret now that a comeback is on the verge of completion. They cannot have the freedom, shown in Milan, of men with nothing to lose. They will be trying carefully to devise the win needed to be sure of reaching the knockout stage of the Champions League, but a draw would be enough for the visitors. The latter outcome would only suit Arsenal club if Dynamo Kiev also shared the points with Inter, and Wenger is disregarding that possibility.
"You can expect Lokomotiv to defend well and Arsenal to attack well," he said. "It's a different problem now. Inter were in a position where they felt they had to win the game as well. We knew we could hit them on the break. But if, after an hour, it is still a draw with Lokomotiv it will be a much more tense situation. Each team knows it will be costly if it makes a mistake in defence."
The stresses will be felt far beyond the field. Revenue from the competition is more significant than ever for a club who are finalising their plans for the new £455 million stadium at Ashburton Grove. Departing from the Champions League at this juncture might mean the club received a moderate £12 million or so from their participation.
Wenger, in his droll way, appreciated that involvement in the tournament needs to be incessant if Arsenal are to cope with the loan they have negotiated. "The only way to (repay) £265 million is to go through a few rounds," he said.
The pressure to negotiate those rounds, though, keeps growing, even as funds to invest shrink.
"Last season we were second in the championship and won the FA Cup," Wenger added. "There have been times when that would have been fantastic, but because expectations are so high it is a disappointment when we don't do the Double. I find it normal. It just means you have been successful. What keeps me going is wanting to take the club higher."
He should be able to take another upward step this evening. Thierry Henry, who missed the draw at Leicester with a hamstring strain, will be able to take part if there is no reaction to his two training sessions this week. Wenger, too, will be boosted by by the knowledge that he can include the fit again Patrick Vieira in his plans.
Lokomotiv have specific disadvantages. With the Russian season completed five weeks ago, they occupied themselves with the Champions League and, in the case of seven internationals, the Euro 2004 play-off with Wales, but the past fortnight has been empty and work-outs at a training camp in Spain may not be the ideal preparation.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
ARSENAL (4-4-2): Lehmann; Toure, Campbell, Cygan, Cole; Ljungberg, Gilberto, Vieira, Pires; Bergkamp, Henry.
LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW (5-3-1-1): Ovchinnikov; Evseev, Sennikov, Pashinin, Ignashevitch, Lekcetho; Loskov, Maminov, Khokhlov; Izmailov; Ashvetia.
Referee: L Michel (Slovakia).
