UCL: Steaua Bucharest v Arsenal
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European history
Steaua Bucharest are the only club from Romania ever to compete in the Champions League. They are playing their 38th season of European football, but have failed to advance beyond the group stage in each of their four previous CL appearances.
Arsenal, the 2005-06 runners-up, are in their 23rd season in Europe and 10th in the CL main competition.
Current European form
Steaua survived two rounds of qualifying, but are winless in six in the main CL competition, culminating in the 2-1 defeat at Slavia Prague in their opening group match this season. They have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 Champions League matches, since defeating Poland's Widzew Lodz 1-0 in October 1996.
Arsenal beat Sparta Prague in qualifying, and started their challenge in the main competition with a comprehensive 3-0 home victory over Uefa Cup holders Sevilla.
Player and disciplinary info
If selected, Marius Croitoru will be playing on his 27th birthday.
Nicolae Dica is the most productive CL goal scorer in Steaua's squad having netted four times. He is also the club's all-time leading CL goal scorer (1992-2007); Jens Lehmann is Arsenal's most experienced player in the Champions league, having made 57 appearances. Tomas Rosicky is the top scorer of CL goals in Arsenal's squad, with eight. -
which team is that arh?Originally posted by akinos:Another anger to let out.
WHY THE FCUK IS STARHUB NOT SHOWING THE MATCH LIVE? WE PAID SO MUCH JUST TO WATCH THE DELAYED TELECAST. TO HELL WITH THEM AGAIN LA, NOT FAIR LOR LIKE THAT. LAST SEASON THEY ALWAYS SHOW DE AND NOW THEY GIVE US THIS TYPE OF SHIT SERVICE + LOUSY ANALYSIS FROM THE CHANNEL 27, LAST TIME SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING!!! THEY ARE DAMN BIASED TOWARDS LIVERFOOLS, MANURE, CHAOSKIS AND BARENONEHNEHs LA!!!
still stick to my 3 - 0 prediction. (RVP 2 , Flamini 1)
*edit* feel free to quote for future complaints to StarHub.
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Barcelona. just shift it around abit can leOriginally posted by omgukilledkenny:which team is that arh? 
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Originally posted by akinos:Barcelona. just shift it around abit can le
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See Mourinho name, eye big big?Originally posted by felirox: 
Cheers. -
*Arsene vows to rock Romania*
ARSENE WENGER plans to light up gloomy Bucharest with ArsenalÂ’s beautiful football.
Gunners boss Wenger expects a hostile reception in the Romanian capital — and admits his team do not have a good record on the road against teams from the former Eastern Bloc.
Yet he is still backing his young stars such as Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie to shine as Arsenal chase a ninth straight win.
Wenger said: “There is always a strange atmosphere over here.
“It’s darker, less glamorous. You don’t feel on a high when you come to Eastern Europe.
“Teams over here are always up for it against Arsenal and we don’t have a good a very good record in these kind of games.
“So the challenge is to raise our level in a less exciting environment.”
Yet Wenger has no intention of abandoning the attacking principles which have won Arsenal acclaim.
The Frenchman added: “Of course I take pride when people go home after watching my team and feel that for 1½ hours life is beautiful.
“At Arsenal we play the way I like and the way my players like.
“In the past we were criticised for over-playing and not being efficient. We were sometimes swept aside by physical teams and could not cope with that.
“Now we have grown up. We are at an age where everyone is enthusiastic and playing well — but also performing with efficiency.”
Arsenal will be without Tomas Rosicky, William Gallas, Jens Lehmann and Eduardo Da Silva for tonightÂ’s game.
Emmanuel Adebayor, Alex Hleb, Mathieu Flamini all picked up knocks in SaturdayÂ’s 1-0 win at West Ham and are doubtful.
Steaua have just sacked Romanian legend Gheorghe Hagi as coach following defeat by Slavia Prague in their Group H opener.
And Wenger — whose side beat Seville 3-0 a fortnight ago — does not know what to expect from a Steaua team making their first Champions League appearance in 10 years.
The Romanian keeper Robinson Zapata believes Arsenal are a bigger threat in Europe without Thierry Henry.
The Frenchman quit Gunners for Barcelona in the summer and Zapata said: “We have seen videos of Arsenal and they seem to be playing at a higher level then when Henry was in the team.
“Perhaps they were depending too much on him and now they are playing more as a team. This makes it difficult for us.
“After losing to Prague, this is a final for us.” -
sian no live..
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x2... worst is they totally no live or delay...Originally posted by akinos:Another anger to let out.
WHY THE FCUK IS STARHUB NOT SHOWING THE MATCH LIVE? WE PAID SO MUCH JUST TO WATCH THE DELAYED TELECAST. TO HELL WITH THEM AGAIN LA, NOT FAIR LOR LIKE THAT. LAST SEASON THEY ALWAYS SHOW DE AND NOW THEY GIVE US THIS TYPE OF SHIT SERVICE + LOUSY ANALYSIS FROM THE CHANNEL 27, LAST TIME SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING!!! THEY ARE DAMN BIASED TOWARDS LIVERFOOLS, MANURE, CHAOSKIS AND BARENONEHNEHs LA!!!
still stick to my 3 - 0 prediction. (RVP 2 , Flamini 1)
*edit* feel free to quote for future complaints to StarHub. -
x 3! wat so nice about watching a few monkeys dive here or there!Originally posted by BrUtUs:x2... worst is they totally no live or delay...
we demand to watch beautiful football which arsenal play! -
can only hope the other english teams faster get KO.. left gunners then can watch them in ucl weekly....Originally posted by 798:x 3! wat so nice about watching a few monkeys dive here or there!
we demand to watch beautiful football which arsenal play! -
1 - 0 Arsenal!!! woohhoooo, RVP scored again! now i just need to wait for highlights on how he scored, to hell with shitehub~~
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How come Gilberto Silva was on the sub again? Given his experience, I thought Wenger shd have placed him in the first 11.
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wat the F**KOriginally posted by turbo_drift:Cool down cool down.. 
how to cool down??? since the UCL started. Starhub never missed a single live telecast for Liverpool!!! But NOT even a match live telecast for Asernal!!!!! -
*Gunners march on in Romania*
Arsenal were made to battle for their second win in UEFA Champions League Group H as Steaua Bucharest put up a spirited display before succumbing 1-0.
The Gunners overcame some early pressure from Steaua to dominate the first half, but a horrendous Cesc Fabregas shot from six yards out typified their poor finishing.
Steaua goalkeeper Robinson Zapata almost carried the ball over the goalline as he scrambled back to catch Gael Clichy's deflected cross, while at the other end Kolo Toure had to retreat to head clear Nicolae Dica's lob.
The two sides traded chances in the second half before Robin van Persie made the crucial breakthrough on 76 minutes with a powerful shot into the roof of the net from Emmanuel Adebayor's cut-back, to clinch Arsenal's ninth successive victory in all competitions.
Talk off the pitch may be of a supposed Russian takeover but on it, Wenger's young Gunners show little sign of anything distracting them.
Pressure
Even so, it was the hosts who started the better and created the first decent opening on five minutes when Valentin Badea headed over a left-wing cross from Romeo Surdu.
The Romanians then had the ball in the net when Badea swept home a free-kick at the far post, only for the offside flag to silence the celebrations.
Captain Nicolae Dica then drilled a low 20-yard strike wide of Manuel Almunia's right-hand post.
Arsenal soon started to build a spell of pressure themselves, with the hard-working Emmanuel Adebayor seeing plenty of the ball.
On 29 minutes he got in behind the defence and cut an intelligent pass back across the six-yard box but there was no-one on hand for the tap in.
There looked to be a let off for the home side on 40 minutes after Arsenal worked the ball out to the left, where Gael Clichy whipped it in from the byline.
A deflection wrong-footed keeper Robinson Zapata and as the Colombian fell back to gather the ball, he appeared to carry it over the line.
Fumbled
The Steaua number one then showed quick reflexes to beat away a close-range effort from Mathieu Flamini as Arsenal pressed again.
At the start of the second half, Clichy whipped a free-kick into the box but Adebayor just could not get enough contact as the goalkeeper almost fumbled the ball into his own net.
It was then Toure's turn to save his side, heading off the line after Adrian Neaga had sent a looping 25-yard shot back up over Almunia, who had raced out to head a long throughball clear.
Steaua made a change on the hour, with Victoras Iacob replacing Badea.
The home side then enjoyed their best spell of the game as the crowd suddenly found its voice.
However, despite plenty of possession, Steaua were also unable to find the decisive pass when it mattered.
Arsenal then finally made the breakthrough on 75 minutes, working the ball down the left side and to Adebayor in the box.
The Togo striker cut the ball back just behind Fabregas but it fell perfectly for van Persie, who made no mistake from six yards.
The hosts desperately looked for a way back into the match but the Gunners comfortably played out the closing stages to continue their impressive start to the campaign. -
chill chill. actually it's nothing to do wif liverpool cos they playing diff day wif us. but our schedule almost same day wif manure n barca.Originally posted by baby hunter:wat the F**K how to cool down??? since the UCL started. Starhub never missed a single live telecast for Liverpool!!! But NOT even a match live telecast for Asernal!!!!!
want to blame u should blame starhub as they trying to brainwash singaporean dat manure is the only supporting club in sg. -
UCL: Steaua Bucharest v Arsenal match report
Robin van Persie secured ArsenalÂ’s ninth straight win with the only goal at Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday night.
The Dutchman hammered home his fifth goal of the season - and his second winner in four days — in the 76th minute to decide a fraught and frantic affair in the Romanian capital.
Arsenal thought they had halted SteauaÂ’s sparky display just before half-time when Gael ClichyÂ’s deflected ball appeared to cross the line despite the best efforts of keeper Robinson Zapata. Replays suggested the referee was right to rule it out.
However, as the game went on, Arsenal got stronger and it was no surprise to see the Dutchman rifle home a clever cutback from Emmanuel Adebayor after good work by Alex Hleb. It was the least the visitors deserved after another dominant, if not free-flowing, display.
On the eve of this game, Arsène Wenger had suggested his side would need 10 points to qualify from Champions League Group H.
After just two of the six games that task is 60 per cent completed.
Before kick-off, the manager had five players facing fitness tests - Robin van Persie (ankle), Alex Hleb (knee), Emmanuel Adebayor (thigh), Mathieu Flamini (knee) and Abou Diaby (ankle).
In the end only the last of those failed to start the game. If even he made the bench. Emmanuel Eboue came in on the right and Hleb, who had been stretchered off at West Ham on Saturday, was switched to the left.
Jens Lehmann (elbow), Willam Gallas (groin), Alex Song (calf), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and Eduardo (hamstring) were still on the treatment table.
Steaua had lost their manager since their defeat to Slavia Prague on Matchday One. Gheorghe Hagi was one of RomaniaÂ’s greatest players and had masterminded GalatasarayÂ’s victory over WengerÂ’s Arsenal in the Uefa Cup Final of 2000.
Perhaps his unpopular dismissal was the reason half of the 28,000 seats in the Steaua Stadium were empty this evening.
However what the home fans lacked in numbers they made up for in passion. And they nearly had something to shout about in the sixth minute. Valentin Badea, who had already drifted a header over the bar, ghosted in at the far post to nod home a right-wing free-kick by Benal Nicolita. Replays confirmed that referee Terje Hauge was right to rule it offside.
Arsenal should have provided the perfect riposte. They flew up the other end, Van Persie got to the byline and scuttled a low ball across the area. Hleb collected and rolled the ball back into the area to Fabregas six yards out. Inexplicably, Fabregas screwed his shot over the bar.
Steaua were belying their reputation of a side hit by a double whammy - injury problems and internal strife. Nicolae Dica flashed a low, long-range drive beyond the diving AlmuniaÂ’s left hand and the post in the 20th minute. Just before the half-hour Nicolita nearly stole in before the keeper collected ClichyÂ’s back header.
Seconds later, Van PersieÂ’s clever touch sent Adebayor clear in the left-hand channel but the Togolese striker chose to square the ball into a penalty area over-populated with Steaua shirts when a shot on goal was much the better option. However it was Arsenal were starting to find the measure of their hosts
Ovidu Petre fired over for Steaua but in the 35th minute Fabregas and Hleb played a one-two in the area only for the latterÂ’s drive to be blocked on the edge of the six-yard box.
Five minutes before the break. Arsenal thought they had gone ahead. Clichy had ample time to cross from the left but his effort cannoned off Petre Marin. It wrong-footed keeper Robinson Zapata who did well to re-adjust and clutch the ball on the line. His momentum slid the Columbian over it and the ball went with him. Replays suggested the keeper hauled the ball back before its entirety had crossed.
Then, as half time approached, Flamini then forced Zapata into another sharp save at his near post.
As the whistle blew there was a sense that Arsenal were starting to turn the screw.
They nearly got their reward 10 minutes after break. Romeo Surdu crudely hauled down Helb on the left, Fabregas swung the free-kick into the area and, although the leaping Adebayor got the merest touch, Robinson batted the ball clear at full stretch.
However, almost immediately, Arsenal had let off themselves. Almunia rushed out of his area the head the ball clear. However it fell to the feet of Adrian Negra whose lob sailed over the Spanish keeper and had to be nodded away by Toure, who had taken up sentry duty on his own line.
HlebÂ’s trickery continued to cause Steaua problems on the left but often his work lacked accuracy in the final ball.
After Van Persie had hooked over from AdebayorÂ’s fine cross, the Belarus fired over the bar. It was an indication that Arsenal were, once again, going to finish strongly.
However in the 70th minute, NicolitaÂ’s through-ball sent substitute Victoras Iacob clear. Arsenal looked for an offside flag. It never came. Fortunately for them the gangly striker snatched at his chance and guided his shot wastefully over the bar.
The extent of its wastefulness would be shown in the 76th minute. Hleb fed Adeabyor, who bulldozered his way to the byline. His cutback evaded Fabregas but not Van Persie hammered a left foot shot high into the net.
The goal killed SteauaÂ’s spirit. In the dying minutes, Fabregas tested Zapata from range and Adebayor hoiked an effort over the bar.
This victory was hardly 90 when, to borrow the managerÂ’s phrase, life was beautiful. But it was pretty enough and certainly showed the efficiency of a side who are going places. -
this previous two matches rvp had been scored solo goal for us.
we need to buck up! -
the most funi thing now is they can show manu match x3(1x live 2x delay) n no gunners match...Originally posted by 798:chill chill. actually it's nothing to do wif liverpool cos they playing diff day wif us. but our schedule almost same day wif manure n barca.
want to blame u should blame starhub as they trying to brainwash singaporean dat manure is the only supporting club in sg.