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| Old foe could give Boro bite |
by Rupe
on 22/8/03 at 23:02
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| this is story 409 of 603 in this topic to date |
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On Sunday Arsenal are likely to be facing Middlesbrough debutant Gaizka Mendieta. The Spanish midfielder was arguably Valencia's best player back when they put us out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage in 2001. He was (inevitably) the subject of much transfer speculation, but opted for Serie A rather than the Premiership. One has to hope (presume) that the fact that he's now moved to Teeside from Lazio means that is star is now in the descendant. Still, class is permanent, as they say. Last season, Boro looked pretty good at the back but toothless up front. He's only been at the Riverside 2 days but should walk straight into the side. Mendieta could make a difference.
Young Italian striker Massimo Maccarone is out with an ankle problem, other absentees are Ugo Ehiogu (knee) and David Murphy (foot). Greening (back) and Job (hamstring) are doubtful.
As for Arsenal, Sol Campbell was said on Friday to be 50-50, having missed the England game on Wednesday with a shoulder problem. He was due for a scan on Friday and is not likely to be risked unless virtually 100% fit.
Cygan is out with a hamstring injury but we'd hope that Keown and Toure would play in Sol's absence anyway. We don't know if Philippe Senderos is injured still but if he is (and if Sol's out), John Halls could be on the bench as cover.
Jens Lehmann suffered a training-ground thigh injury during the week but is expected to be fit. Francis Jeffers is suspended as a result of his Community Shield sending-off. Freddie Ljungberg might well be rested a bit longer to recover from the shoulder problem which kept him out of Sweden's midweek game.
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