Group E
Rosenborg v Arsenal
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is tipping hotshot Jose Antonio Reyes to have a similar impact to Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney in this season’s Champions League.
“Jose is in a Rooney situation because people expect so much for him. Said Wenger,
“He has been fantastic for us so far and adapted much quicker than I expected. Jose has a big part t play in the Champions League.”
Arsenal travel to Rosenborg for their second match in Group E minus Dennis Bergkamp and Gilberto. Bergkamp will not make the trip to Norway due to his fear of flying, leaving Reyes and Henry to start up front whilst Gilberto Silva has aggravated an old back injury and may be out until Christmas.
“We don’t know how long he is going to be out but it doesn’t look good,” said Arsene Wenger.
“He is definitely out for at least one month with no physical activity and then we will have to check his progress after that.”
Robert Pires returns to the starting line-up after missing Saturdays match against Manchester City with a foot injury, as does England defender Sol Campbell following his lengthy lay-off with an achilles injury.
This is Rosenborg’s ninth season in the Champions League having appeared twice more than Arsenal, yet the Norwegian champions (for the 12th consecutive season) have never made it past the quarter finals, much like their north London opponents.
Rosenborg Striker Frode Johnsen is playing down Arsenal’s billing in the competition; “It seems that people rate Arsenal as ten times better than Real Madrid but I don’t think so.”
Orjan Berg added: “The fact is Arsenal are over-praised.”
The veteran midfielder may not get to test this assumption as he is doubtful for the game with Soli likely to fill the central berth.
