PREVIEW-Soccer-Sevilla face tough debut against in-form Arsenal

LONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - UEFA Cup holders Sevilla look set for a baptism of fire when they make their Champions League debut against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

The Spaniards are making their second visit to north London in just over five months after drawing 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Cup in April. It is unlikely their visit to Arsenal will begin quite like their trip to Spurs.

Already 2-1 up from the first leg of their quarter-final tie, Sevilla scored twice in the opening eight minutes to go 4-1 ahead on aggregate at White Hart Lane, eventually advancing 4-3 and going on to win the UEFA Cup for the second successive season.

Former Spurs striker Frederic Kanoute scored Sevilla's second that night and he is currently in blistering form this season, scoring twice on Sunday as Sevilla beat Recreativo Huelva 4-1 to take second spot in La Liga behind champions Real Madrid.

Kanoute will lead Sevilla's attacking line against his old rivals with considerable help from Russian Alexander Kerzhakov, who also scored twice on Sunday and missed a penalty.

He makes his second visit to London in a week after being part of the Russia team beaten 3-0 by England at Wembley last Wednesday.

Buoyed this season's form, Sevilla are confident they can cause Arsenal a few problems.

They hammered AEK Athens 6-1 on aggregate to qualify for the group stage and have netted eight goals in their two Primera Liga matches played so far.

Centre back Javi Navarro is sidelined with an injury and Brazilian midfielder Adriano Correia is also missing, but Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano, French defender Julien Escude, and German fullback Andreas Hinkel all return.

UNBEATEN START

Arsenal go into the game after a 3-1 win at Tottenham on Saturday which preserved their unbeaten start to the season and saw them rise to the top of the Premier League for the first time since October 2004.

The principal architect of Arsenal's win was 20-year-old Spaniard Cesc Fabregas who scored an outstanding goal -- his fifth of the season -- and whose passing and movement in midfield was excellent.

Arsenal ooze confidence and style and although Sevilla are sure to test a back line missing the injured William Gallas (groin) and Emmanuel Eboue (ankle), Arsenal start as clear favourites to began their 10th successive season in the Champions League proper with a victory.

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger is taking nothing for granted and told the UEFA Web site (www.uefa.com): "I know Sevilla very well and I think they are one of the best teams in Europe."

Sevilla boss Juande Ramos, touted as a possible future manager of Spurs, is under no illusions about Wednesday's task.

"I hope we are ready, in theory we should be having won the UEFA Cup twice. We will see in our first few games just how ready we are," he told reporters

Probable teams:

Arsenal: 24-Manuel Almunia; 3-Bacary Sagna, 5-Kolo Toure, 6-Philippe Senderos, 22-Gael Clichy; 13-Aleksandr Hleb, 4-Cesc Fabregas, 19-Gilberto Silva, 7-Tomas Rosicky; 25-Emmanuel Adebayor, 11-Robin van Persie

Sevilla: 1-Andres Palop; 4-Daniel Alves, 14-Julien Escude, 23-Khalid Boulahrouz, 3-Ivica Dragutinovic; 7-Jesus Navas, 21-Seydou Keita, 11-Renato, 5-Duda; 10-Luis Fabiano, 12-Frederic Kanoute.

Referee: Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden)

Alisher Usmanov increases his stake in Arsenal

The battle for Arsenal looks set to intensify after the Uzbek billionaire, Alisher Usmanov, went on a new share buying spree yesterday, snapping up more than three per cent of the club in a series of deals which could be worth as much as £20 million.An official announcement by Usmanov's investment company, Red and White Holdings, has confirmed they have increased their shareholding in Arsenal to 21 per cent to become the second largest shareholder at the club. Usmanov is now the second largest shareholder in the club and the move is the strongest indication yet that he is determined to launch a full takeover bid for the north London team.

The vast bulk of the shares sold to him yesterday came from investment company Lansdowne Partners, who previously held around three per cent. It is believed Usmanov may have paid as much as £10,000 per share for their stake – way above the market price of £8,000.

At the same time, he secured another 0.5 per cent from smaller shareholders for around £2.6 million.

Usmanov, one of Russia's richest men, first emerged as a potential bidder for Arsenal when he bought 14.65 per cent from former vice chairman David Dein for £75 million at the end of August.

Within days of installing Dein as chairman of Red and White and charging him with the task of buying up more shares, another 271 were snapped up by Usmanov for about £2 million, taking his holding to just below 15 per cent.

For the time being, however, any takeover approach from either Usmanov or the American sports tycoon Stan Kroenke, who owns 12 per cent, will be blocked by shareholders on the Arsenal board, who have signed a 'lockdown' agreement preventing them from selling their 44 per cent holding in the club until at least next April.

Danny Fiszman, who is the biggest shareholder in the club with 24 per cent, has told supporters he has no intention of selling out.

On Monday, the club will reveal their latest financial results which will show the move to the Emirates Stadium has helped close the financial gap between them and the country's richest club, Manchester United.

Jens Lehmann determined to defy pain

Jens Lehmann has given Arsène Wenger a selection problem by declaring himself fit for tomorrow’s Champions League group H opening match against Seville. The Germany goalkeeper is still suffering from soreness in his elbow, but insists he can play through the pain to take his place against the Spaniards.

Lehmann is concerned that missing a Champions League match will see him fall farther behind Manuel Almunia, though given the nervous manner in which the Spanish goalkeeper has performed in his absence, he should not be unduly worried.

Almunia was beaten at his near post by a free kick from Gareth Bale against Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday and presented Dimitar Berbatov with an excellent opportunity to give the home side a 2-0 lead by rushing from his line to little effect.

For all his weaknesses, Wenger may still select Almunia, as he is aware that Lehmann’s elbow problem will need nurturing through a long season. The 37-year-old has not played for Arsenal since making errors against Fulham and Blackburn Rovers in the opening two Barclays Premier League matches of the season.

Eduardo will return to the squad after being rested for the North London derby, though William Gallas (groin) and Emmanuel Eboué (ankle) remain doubtful.

SEVILLE coach Juande Ramos will waltz into the Emirates tomorrow night — and show Spurs how you beat Arsenal.

That is the view of Seville’s Brazil right-back Daniel Alves who reckons frustrated Tottenham fans will be cursing their luck at missing out on Ramos.

Spurs botched an attempt to replace under-fire Martin Jol with the Spanish coach three weeks ago.

Ramos met with White Hart Lane officials but the deal fell apart after the meeting was made public.

Seville arrive in London today for their Champions League match at Arsenal having started their season undefeated.

Arsene Wenger’s side may be flying high at the top of the Premier League after their 3-1 derby win on Saturday but Alves rates Ramos alongside the Gunners’ boss.

Alves said: “Seville play in a very similar style to Arsenal. We are fast, attacking and play the game in a beautiful way and that is because of Jaunde Ramos.

“It is his football philosophy and it is very close to Arsene Wenger’s. I think that will make this match a great occasion.

The players are all very happy that our coach decided not to go to Tottenham.

ALVES ... Seville ace

“He is loved and respected at Seville. I think he stayed out of loyalty because we were already preparing for the new season and the time to leave was wrong.

“If Spurs had made their move at the end of last season maybe they would have a new manager now.”

Having become the first team — and coach — to successfully defend the UEFA Cup, Seville are keen to make the most of their first appearance in the Champions League.

Alves added: “This is a very big moment for us. We are very confident and we are already playing the kind of football that made us the team we were last season.

“Arsenal are a strong side with great young players. They are one of the favourites to win the Premier League and the Champions League — but we have no fear. I saw their match with Spurs last weekend and the way they play is no surprise to us. We play the same style and this has the possibility to be a beautiful contest.

“But we know if we can win at the Emirates then we will have gone a long way to qualifying for the next phase.”

Alves admits he is still getting over the heartbreak of seeing his move to Chelsea wrecked. The Brazilian was poised to join the Blues for £21million in the summer before Seville upped the asking price.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich refused to pay £24m and Jose Mourinho bought fellow Brazilian Julio Belletti for £2.1m instead.

Alves said: “The opportunity came up and I wanted to join but it didn’t happen. I am still coming to terms with the situation and trying to move on and look to the future.

“I was angry and confused by the way things happened but I have to concentrate on Seville now and start to turn the pages.”

Wenger weary of Seville threat

They may be UEFA Champions League debutants but Arsenal FC manager Arsène Wenger is under no illusions as to the quality of their opening night opponents, describing Sevilla FC as "one of the best sides in Europe".

Tricky opponents
Arsenal meet the two-times UEFA Cup holders in London on Wednesday and Wenger, who is embarking on his tenth consecutive UEFA Champions League campaign as Gunners manager, knows that the Spanish side will prove tricky opponents, even if it is their first taste of action in Europe's élite club competition. "I know Sevilla very well and I think that they are one of the best sides in Europe," Wenger told uefa.com.

Important start
The 57-year-old Frenchman, whose side lost the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League final against FC Barcelona, also understands the importance of a good start in the competition. "It is a match which, from the very start, will dictate the potential of the two sides," he said. "It is important for us to play well as we are at home and we will need to be very focused both to prove that we are good enough at this level and, more importantly, to put us in a good position to qualify."

'Huge pleasure'
Wenger recently extended his contract until June 2011 and after agreeing to a deal that will in all likelihood make him Arsenal's longest serving manager, it is clear that he has lost none of his enthusiasm for his quest to clinch the ultimate European prize that still eludes him. "I'm looking forward to being involved in matches of the highest level," he said. "It's exciting, an adventure which, unfortunately, can often lead to disappointment because you can't reach the final every year but it's always a huge pleasure to be involved."

Improving quality
Arsenal's impressive start to the domestic campaign has seen them top the Premier League after five games and has also given Wenger great cause for optimism, although he is not looking any farther ahead than qualifying from a group containing Sevilla, FC Steaua Bucureşti and SK Slavia Praha: "Our first expectation is to qualify from the group stage. Then you hope for a draw that will allow you to go as far as possible. But I'm mainly hoping that we qualify from the group stage and that we play well because the quality of the competition improves year on year."

Arsenal beats Spurs to move top

Sept. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Arsenal rallied to defeat Tottenham 3-1 and move into first place in English soccer's Premier League, while Manchester United beat Everton for its third straight win and Liverpool and Chelsea were held to scoreless draws.

Emmanuel Adebayor scored two goals and Cesc Fabregas added the other for Arsenal, which has 13 points from five matches. Arsenal, which scored all of its goals in the final 25 minutes, hasn't lost to its north London rival since 1999.

``It shows our spirit and belief and I am very happy with our game and our mental strength and togetherness,'' Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp. ``We have showed them all again.''

Nemanja Vidic's goal in the 83rd minute gave Manchester United the victory as the defending champion joined Liverpool and Chelsea on 11 points.

In other games, Birmingham beat Bolton 1-0, Sunderland defeated Reading 2-1, West Ham beat Middlesbrough 3-0, and Wigan and Fulham drew 1-1.

At Tottenham's White Hart Lane stadium, Gareth Bale curled in a free kick in the 15th minute to give the host the early lead. Adebayor tied the game in the 65th minute when he met Fabregas's free kick and headed the ball past Paul Robinson.

Fabregas gave the visitors the lead 15 minutes later, bending a 30-yard shot into the top corner. Adebayor then clinched the victory with his second goal in stoppage time.

Vidic headed in a corner from Nani to give Manchester United its 13th win in 16 visits to Everton's Goodison Park. It was the third straight 1-0 win in the league for United.

Disallowed Goal

Chelsea looked to have taken the lead against Blackburn in the 58th minute when Salomon Kalou converted a pass from Julian Belletti. However, the linesman judged Kalou to be offside, though television replays appeared to show the call was wrong.

``I think we scored a goal and the result should be 1-0,'' Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho said in an interview with Setanta Sports. ``Only the linesman can say why it wasn't allowed.''

Jose Reina stopped a first-half penalty from Kanu to help Liverpool draw at Portsmouth. John Utaka shot wide and Sulley Muntari fired over the crossbar for the home team in the second half.

Strikes from Dean Ashton and Lee Bowyer, and an own goal from Luke Young gave West Ham the win over Middlesbrough. It was the first goal in 16 months for Ashton, who missed last season with a broken ankle.

Birmingham picked up its first home win of the season as Olivier Kapo's first-half goal beat Bolton. Sunderland ended a four-match losing streak on goals from Ross Wallace and Kenwyne Jones, making his home debut after signing from Southampton.

Wigan earned a draw as an 80th-minute penalty from Jason Koumas wiped out a first-half goal from Fulham's Clint Dempsey.

Manchester City is home to Aston Villa tomorrow, while Newcastle is at Derby in two days.

Arsenal conquer Spurs as Liverpool and Chelsea are held

Arsenal scored three goals in the second half to beat Tottenham 3-1 in the Premier League yesterday and extend its unbeaten streak over its north London rival to nearly eight years.

Arsenal went top of the standings with the win because of 0-0 draws in matches involving Liverpool and Chelsea.

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina saved a penalty kick in a 0-0 draw at Portsmouth. Chelsea had a goal disallowed in its 0-0 draw with Blackburn.

Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice at White Hart Lane, with Cesc Fabregas putting Arsenal ahead for the first time in the 80th minute. Tottenham took the lead in the 15th through Gareth Bale, with Adebayor levelling in the 65th and adding Arsenal's third goal in the 90th.

"We had that midfield strength and that togetherness pushed us through," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "It needed something special as Tottenham played well."

Manchester United also needed a late winner, with Nemanja Vidic heading into goal in the 83rd for the Red Devils to beat Everton 1-0.

Also Saturday it was: Birmingham 1, Bolton 0; Sunderland 2, Reading 1; West Ham 3, Middlesbrough 0; and Wigan 1, Fulham 1. On Sunday, Manchester City hosts Aston Villa.

Arsenal leads with 13 points, followed by Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea with 11 after a two-week international break. West Ham and Everton have 10 points.

"We feel we grow from game to game and become stronger and stronger," Wenger said.

Tottenham has not beaten Arsenal in any competition since November 1999, when it won a league match 2-1 at White Hart Lane. Spurs only have one win this season from six games.

"We should have killed them off but we didn't take our chances," Tottenham manager Martin Jol said. "We took the game to them and created chances. But they were clinical and that was the difference."

Spurs took the lead when Bale curled a 25-yard free kick around the wall and past Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.