PARIS, Sept 16: Arsenal, Juventus and Bayern Munich embark on their latest Champions League adventure on Wednesday determined to make amends for the misery they endured in the cash-soaked tournament last season.
Arsenal, who went into the competition as English Premiership and FA Cup winners, were dumped out in the second round while Bayern never got beyond the first group stage despite setting out as one of the favourites.
Juventus, twice winners of the tournament but runners-up three times in the last seven seasons, were beaten finalists losing to Italian rivals AC Milan after a bitterly disappointing performance.
Now all three start again from scratch, but the memories of last season burn deep.
Arsenal entertain Inter Milan at Highbury in a Group B which also includes perennial challengers Dynamo Kiev and Lokomotiv Moscow.
The Gunners were knocked out in the second round last year winning just one of their six matches. That came at Roma, followed by four draws and a crucial 2-1 defeat at Valencia in their last match.
It was the second time in three years that the Gunners had lost at the Mestalla Stadium with the defeat coming on the back of boss Arsene Wenger claiming that the Londoners had matured into a stronger outfit.
Wenger has been cheered by the absence from Inter’s ranks of Christian Vieri for Wednesday’s clash - a player capable of inflicting the same damage as Carew.
Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman said last week they had three months to raise 50 million pounds towards the 400-million-pound (600-million-dollar) new stadium project or it would have to be scrapped.
The club wants to move to a new 60,000-seater ground and leave the 38,500-capacity Highbury behind.
Juventus begin their campaign at home to Group D rivals Galatasaray determined to redeem themselves after last season’s final defeat to Milan on penalties that was a bitter blow after they had outclassed Real Madrid in the semifinals.
Part of the reason why Juve failed to tick in the Old Trafford final was the absence of suspended Czech playmaker Pavel Nedved.
The other Group D match on Wednesday sees Greek champions Olympiakos at Spanish side Real Sociedad.
Four-time winners Bayern Munich are also looking to make amends for their disastrous campaign last season when they host Celtic at the Olympic Stadium in Group A.
French champions Lyon, with former Bayern striker Giovane Elber in their ranks, take on Anderlecht in the night’s other tie.
Bayern failed to win a single match in the first group phase last season - a slump sparked by an opening 3-2 defeat by Deportivo La Coruna, when their recent signing Roy Makaay scored a hat-trick for the Spaniards.
Celtic, winners in 1967, also had a poor Champions League losing in the qualifiying round to Swiss side FC Basel.
The German champions have a host of injury problems with Jens Jeremies and Sebastian Deisler out while doubts surround Michael Ballack, Claudio Pizarro, Willy Sagnol and Ze Roberto.—AFP