The Champions League challenge

The draw for the Champions League Group Stages has been concluded placing Arsenal (seeded 1st) in Group F alongside Marseille, Borussia Dortmund and Napoli.

This will prove a stern test for the Gunners who have often had little trouble in qualifying to the knockout rounds of the competition. Of course I don't think there are many fans who believe the club have the capabilities to win the Champions League just yet, but I am concerned, looking at Group F, that Arsenal will even be able to go on past the groups.

Arsenal struggled against Napoli in the Emirates Cup earlier in the summer, as both sides battled to a 2-2 draw (which included a Giroud overhead kick). Of course that was pre-season and Arsenal didn't look ready for the new season at that point, as proved two weeks later in their opening day disaster against Aston Villa.

Higuain featured that afternoon; the striker reportedly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, before moving to the Italian side. He was booed, and I am sure he will be again when the sides meet in the Champions League. They looked good on the attack, showing the vulnerabilities in Arsenal's lacklustre defence.

Dortmund meanwhile have the likes of Subotic, Hummels, Bender, Blasczczykowski, and Lewandowski and German teams, as we are seeing, are making names for themselves in modern football. They finished second in the Bundesliga last year and were runners up against Bayern Munich in last year's Champions League final which they lost 2-1. Of course the last time we came close to the cup was the final of 2006, but let's not linger our thoughts there.

Flamini re-signs on a three-year deal

In other news, Flamini has signed for the club, making his second spell with Arsenal. He had been training in pre-season after completing his contract with AC Milan, who he signed for in 2008. The 29-year-old is a versatile midfielder who can also play at either left or right back, and I think all Arsenal fans will be pleased to have him back.

Of course supporters still want money to be spent, but time continues to be against Arsene, who has reiterated he is still looking to spend big before Monday's deadline.

2013/14 Champions League Group Draw:

Group A - Manchester United; Shakhtar Donetsk; Bayer Leverkusen; Real Sociedad.

Group B - Real Madrid; Juventus; Galatasary; Copenhagen.

Group C - Benfica; PSG; Olympiakos; Anderlecht.

Group D - Bayern Munich; CSKA Moscow; Manchester City; Viktoria Plzen.

Group E - Chelsea; Schalke; Basel; Steaua Bucharest.

Group F - Arsenal; Marseille; Borussia Dortmund; Napoli.

Group G - Porto; Atletico Madrid; Zenit St. Petersburg; Austria Vienna.

Group H - Barcelona; AC Milan; Ajax; Celtic.  

The draw is made in Monaco

Arsenal through to Champions League group stage

As expected, Arsenal have cruised into the group stages of the Champions League at the expense of Fenerbache, as Ramsey was on hand to score a double in their 2-0 win last night (5-0 aggregate).

Goals in either half by the Welshman, including a well taken placed volley from a Gibbs cross, showed levels of confidence in the midfielder, as he followed on from his display against Fulham.

The 5-0 aggregate scoreline ensures Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League for the sixteenth time under Wenger's reign, making it twelve wins out twelve via the qualifier play-offs.

The draw for the group stage will take place in Monaco tomorrow (Thursday) at 5:45pm local time (4:45pm GMT).

After the match, Wenger refused to discuss new signings but is aware playing in the Champions League is a defining factor in players decisions to join new clubs. But it is whether players believe they can win trophies, and not just simply participate with Europe's top teams, that will make them join a new club.

Arsenal remain linked with Angel Di Maria but Galatasary are being reported by Turkish media that a transfer fee for the winger has been agreed, and so Wenger will have to react quickly if he wants to make signatures, with only five days left before the window slams shut. The media have also linked Arsenal to Mesut Ozil who didn't appear happy with being substituted in Madrid's last match, but then that isn't a great reason to simply want a move. A world-class signing he would be nonetheless.

Furthermore, Juan Mata's father was in the stands last night against Fenerbache. The Chelsea midfielder is another reported unsettled player who may not feature in Jose Mourinho's plans at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal were interested in his signature in the summer Chelsea signed him, with Wenger refusing to offer a few more million pounds for him. Transfer talk is fun, so it will be interesting to see what, if anything, materialises over the coming days.

As for now, Arsenal look ahead to Sunday's clash in the North London derby against Tottenham who have won both of their Premier League games so far. Arsenal go into the match with three successive wins in their League and Play-off ties which makes for a great meeting. However, the inform Ramsey left the pitch slightly early last night, while Podolski appears to have pulled a hamstring and could be out for three weeks Wenger confirmed. Wilshere played all of the 90 minutes last night despite taking a knock to his ankle late on, and Wenger has already said he doesn't want to over-use the young English midfielder.

Arsenal v Spurs kicks off at 4pm (GMT) at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday September 1.

Ramsey celebrates with Sanogo, after scoring his second
goal in last night's match against Fenerbache (5-0 agg)

Arsenal looking to build form

I go away for a little while and everything appears to be happening all at once! From deals and transfer talk, to the season finally getting off and running - it certainly has been blink and I've missed it.

I only managed to see football for the first time on yesterday's (26/08) FL48 Sky Sports programme, but I did manage to see the first major clash of the campaign being between Manchester United and Chelsea, although that was somewhat of a bore.

It is six days until the summer transfer window closes and Arsenal have remained quiet, at least in terms of getting player signatures. Deals for Suarez, Benzema and Rooney have all fallen through, but a move for the winger Angel Di Maria could still be on the cards with Real Madrid on the verge of signing Gareth Bale. That is one transfer I wish would hurry up and be completed, not because I would like to see the back of monkey-face, but it certainly is dragging on!

Wenger says players want to play in the Champions League and this is a huge factor in their decision (of which I'd say is pretty obvious), and so we shall see what deals may happen, after tonight's second-leg clash against Fenerbache (7:45pm k/o GMT). Arsenal are 3-0 up from last weeks' first round tie and look comfortable but I'm not going to jinx anything, so all to play for.

Still, Arsenal have looked in better form since the opening day of the season (in case you needed reminding of the 3-1 home defeat against the mighty Villa), with Podolski showing us why he needs more playing time, and Giroud is certainly proving his eye for goal. Aaron Ramsey was surprisingly good against Fulham, finding pockets of space and helping to control the midfield, but then I can't say I'm confident with him doing the same against those considered title contenders.

Wilshere will start tonight in the Champions League qualifier, despite Wenger saying he won't over-use the young midfielder this year following his dodgy ankle.

Arsenal team to face Fenerbache tonight (via Sky Sports): Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Jenkinson, Monreal, Wilshere, Ramsey, Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott, Giroud.

The starting XI suggests Wenger is aware the job is only half done and he will look to make the group stages of the Champions League in style, perhaps in a bid to make potential signings look our way.

Jack Wilshere saluting the fans

Unconvincing Arsenal

A fun day out it may have been on Saturday, but I think it may be fair to say Arsenal don't appear to be ready to compete with the big guns this coming season. Arsenal finished the Emirates Cup with one draw and a loss, with booing from the supporters ringing around the ground.

I don't appreciate the players being booed off but I can understand the fans frustration. Perhaps more games in pre-season against top level opposition will enable the players to get themselves back up to the standard they need for the return of the Premier League.

Of course it's pre-season and there were some positives from the Napoli match I watched, but they will need to improve quickly for when they take on Manchester City next weekend, and for when the season starts in under two weeks.

For all of Jenkinson's improvements last year it was he who slipped up in allowing Napoli to take an early lead, misjudging his header and spacial awareness. Ramsey looked sluggish, as per, while there appeared to be a lack of urgency breaking forward. Willshere looked to be the creative spark but he soon began to struggle understandably while Rosicky looked in fine form and Koscielny was a rock at the back.

I didn't get to see Yaya Sanogo who got his chance against Galatasary but I've heard some good reports as he made his first appearance for the team on Sunday. He'll be contending with Giroud for the position up-front who continued to both frustrate and give us something cheer about. I never thought I'd see him score an overhead kick!

Credit goes to Arsenal for fighting back from 2-0 down at half time against Napoli but they can't continue to let themselves get into those positions. Furthermore, they can't let teams turn a game in the final moments as Drogba proved against them yet again on Sunday as they lost 2-1.

Arsenal play Man City next weekend before their season kicks off against Aston Villa. A lot clearly needs to be worked on and many fans are calling for money to be spent. At least, however, they go into a new season without losing any key players.

Man-of-the-match Koscielny in action