Arsenal America

Ed. Note - Ok, KY Gunner is our preview guy, but Miranda here has done some solid research…

What do we know about Rosenborg? In my case not a lot, so I did a few minutes’ research. Here are the results:

1. Though they usually win their domestic league, they’re playing poorly at the moment, having just lost 3 games on the trot.

2. They regularly qualify for the CL (this year by beating Maccabi Haifa) and a while back (in 96-97, I think) they actually reached the last 8, knocking out - believe it or not - AC Milan. They’re an experienced side, therefore, and they did score away to Panathinaikos.

3. Experienced is a polite word for old. That same 96-97 side, more or less, will be our opponents on Wednesday. Many of them are in their 30s.

4. Who are they? The chief danger seems to be a striker called Braatvakk who played briefly for Celtic. The others I’ve never heard of. Despite having names like the dwarfs in Tolkien, the player stats suggest they’re quite big.

5. How do they rate their chances? A preview article on their club website has the heading ‘Advancement Not Impossible’. This is followed by a discussion of PSV and Panathinaikos. And Arsenal? Not mentioned. Not one single word!

6. Their tactics. The weather: since Norway turns into Antarctica come November, the Greeks, they point out, will be unaccustomed to playing in long trousers . . . Just as well it’s only October then or poor Jens would have to wear a furry suit and rabbit earmuffs, which might impede him a bit. (Hope I’m not tempting fate in assuming he won’t be kept very busy.)

So - how do we rate our chances? Our pace is our chief asset, I think. And the chief danger? Carelessness defending set pieces perhaps.