UCL: Villarreal v Arsenal Preview

arsenal

Villarreal will be eyeing revenge when they host Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie at the daunting Estadio El Madrigal.

The two Europeans giants locked horns in Europe’s most prestigious competition back in 2006 at the semi-final stage, with Arsenal progressing 1-0 on aggregate courtesy of an 89th-minute penalty save from goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

Domestically, Villarreal, like the Gunners, currently lie fourth in their respective league, although they head into the fixture off the back of a disappointing 3-0 loss UD Almeria on Saturday.

Experienced playmaker Pires is poised to face Arsenal, where he spent six successful years, while Cani and midfield enforcer Marcos Senna are expected to return from injury.

Some facts and figures about the two teams.

- The Gunners have only won two out of their last nine away games in the Champions League.

- Villarreal have played six Champions League games against English teams – five 0-0 draws and a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the semi-final in 2006.

- Villarreal have only won six and drawn 11 out of 20 Champions League matches.

- The Spanish side have won four and lost none of their 10 home Champions League matches, but only scored more than once in one of those games.

- Arsenal have won only one and lost three of their last six away legs in the knockout stages of the Champions League and failed to score in four of the matches.

- Arsenal Brazilian midfielder Denilson is the only outfield player to have featured in every minute of this season’s Champions League.

- The North London team has won two and lost five of their nine Champions League visits to Spain.

- The Gunners have only once scored more than one goal in Spain in this competition, when they won 3-2 away at Celta Vigo in February 2004.

- Arsenal have kept six clean sheets in the last eight Champions League encounters with Spanish opposition.

Posted on April 7, 2009 | Filed Under Football