Arsene Wenger flew into Germany for the resumption of the Champions League with more than this evening's game against Bayer Leverkusen on his mind. The Arsenal manager is angry with the scheduling of his team's FA Cup quarter-final at Newcastle and made that plain last night, writes Jon Brodkin.
Wenger is livid the tie will kick off at 5.35 p.m. on Saturday, March 9th, three days before a game at home to Deportivo la Coruna. Arsenal had asked the FA for a noon start and will fight a decision they feel could undermine their Premiership and European ambitions.
"I have to say thanks once again to the FA for their co-operation," Wenger said. "The Saturday FA Cup game has always kicked off at noon this season and suddenly, when we want to play then, it's 5.30 p.m. If we had said Saturday at 5.30 p.m., they would have said 8.30 p.m. We want to play earlier."
The BBC, which is screening the tie live, does not want a noon kick-off because it is the slot which draws the smallest viewing figures. Paul Newman, the FA's head of communications, defended the decision. "We had discussions with all the clubs about kick-off times, along with television companies and the police forces and that's the basis on which we have made the decisions," he said.
Wenger initially proposed a Friday night kick-off but withdrew that when informed Newcastle play Liverpool two days earlier. If Arsenal require a replay it will be two days after the La Coruna game, leaving them facing seven games in 19 days.
For now Wenger must switch his focus to Bayer Leverkusen. Arsenal arrive after six straight away defeats in the Champions League and particular responsibility will fall on Sol Campbell to try to end that.
With Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Lee Dixon and Matthew Upson injured, Campbell will be asked to lead a makeshift back four through a game Arsenal can ill-afford to lose. "He will be the one we rely on because of his experience and huge physical strength," Wenger said.
Campbell is expected to be partnered by Gilles Grimandi rather than Igors Stepanovs. The England centre back's form has improved in recent weeks, though he will have to improve on a patchy display against Gillingham at the weekend.
Wenger should discover today whether Patrick Vieira will be referred to the FA's video advisory panel after making contact with Gillingham's Iffy Onuora with an elbow. Wenger said it would be "a joke" if Vieira is charged again with misconduct.
"I would say there's a campaign to get Patrick charged," Wenger said. "If he was English and going to the World Cup I don't think it would be the same."
PROBABLE TEAMS
BAYER LEVERKUSEN: Butt; Zivkovic, Lucio, Nowotny, Placente; Schneider, Ballack, Basturk, Ze Roberto, Neuville, Kirsten
ARSENAL: Wright; Lauren, Campbell, Grimandi, van Bronckhorst; Wiltord, Parlour, Vieria, Pires; Bergkamp, Henry.
Guardian Service
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