training session / forecast of AZ vs Arsenal ?

By Myles Palmer

A few words today about Vermaelen and Romero.

One is a centreback, the other a goalkeeper.

When Vermaelen played in Liege, it was a landmark match for a defender who joined the Ajax academy when he was 15 and played his senior football in Holland.

Three weeks ago former Arsenal skipper Frank McLintock was quoted on Arsenal's new defender.

Coming from a passionate captain like McLintock, this was praise indeed. Frank said Thomas Vermaelen could be a great player for the Gunners if he maintains his current form. He told the Independent: “He's athletic, has a great spring, alive and alert, taking charge and telling other players about pushing up after the ball's cleared, and settled in from his very first game. If he can keep that up, he'll be a fantastic player for Arsenal. He's winning headers in the box both ends of the pitch, and that's been one of the failures.”

On Sunday, in Vermaelen's interview in the Independent, he admitted to Steve Tongue  that playing in his home country was a huge novelty.

 "It was only the second time I've played in Belgium, which was special, and I knew they were a good team. We went two-nil down after four or five minutes but it was good that Nicklas scored just before half-time, because we knew in the half-time that we could score one or two more. Then against Olympiacos I think we played our best half of the season and knew the goals would come, though we had to wait."

Vermaelen is the only Arsenal player who is familiar with AZ Alkmaar:  "I played against them for the last few years and know them very well. They have a lot of Belgian players too. They will play as a team with great discipline, like they did last season under Louis van Gaal. They have good players up front like El Hamdaoui and the Belgian guy Dembele, but the real strength is as a team. I think they're going to be quite defensive."

Alkmaar's keeper is 22-year old Sergio Romero, who played in Argentina's last three World Cup qualifying games.

In other words, Romero is Diego Maradona's goalkeeper.To some people that might not be a recommendation.

Romero is six foot four, has very long hair and an older brother who plays professional basketball in Argentina. He kept 18 clean sheets in their title season but broke his hand by punching a wall after they lost a cup quarter-final against NAC Breda and missed the run-in.

Their stadium capacity is 17,000.They were undefeated in 32 European home games before losing 3-2 to Everton in the Uefa Cup in December 2007. Louis van Gaal guided Alkmaar to the title last season, then joined Bayern Munich.

New coach Ronaldo Koeman came over to watch Arsenal recently. As Ajax coach he outsmarted Wenger with a 1-1 at Highbury when Steven Pienaar and Nigel De Jong were playing. Before the second leg many Gooners said, "Playing at home, they'll have to come out." I said, "Why would they do that? A 0-0 will put them through."

You all know the score in that second leg : Ajax 0 Arsenal 0. It was so obvious. If I'd had an online account at the time, I'd have had a bet on that result. Koeman's PSV also beat Arsenal in 2007.

Alkmaar's president Dirk Scheringa is the owner of the DSB Bank, which was declared bankrupt yesterday. One story said the players were not paid last week.

Despite all that strife, don't rule out a draw. Keeper Romero might be a big player tonight. Vermaelen could be as big, or bigger.

LIVERPOOL have a very good record against French clubs but Lyon can score goals away from home. Torres is out, Gerrard plays.

BARCELONA host Russian champions Rubin Kazan, a lively outfit who might be overawed at the Nou Camp.

PS : Did you see The Last Word with Andy Gray?

I fast-forwarded through a recording because Peter Reid was the guest. 

Andy put up a graphic which did not include Man City, Everton or Spurs.

But it was quite interesting

Sky graphic re EPL goals from set-pieces this season