Arsenal Face Formidable Test in Croatia

As Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal contemplate Tuesday’s most difficult European qualifier in Croatia against Dinamo Zagreb, so soon after the World Cup finals in Germany, they do so at a considerable disadvantage. Without proper match sharpness. Without Thierry Henry. Without Jens Lehmann. Without Philippe Senderos. Without Freddie Ljungberg. Without Gael Clichy. Without Abou Diaby. And, significantly, almost certainly without Ashley Cole – an absence which is widely interpreted as paving the way for the ‘want away’ newlywed’s removal to Chelsea.

It all adds up to an extremely challenging tie and progression to the group stages is by no means a formality for the club which less than three months ago came close to winning the competition for the first time in a pulsating final against Barcelona in Paris.