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**Poster** · 08-29-2008, 12:08 PM

Arsenal in for the long haul in Group G
Long journeys to Turkey and Ukraine face Arsenal FC following the UEFA Champions League draw in Monaco, as the English side were pooled alongside FC Porto, Fenerbahçe SK and FC Dynamo Kyiv in Group G. The game between Arsenal and Dynamo will be a special one for Oleh Luzhny, who spent four seasons with the London club after leaving Dynamo in 1999, and is now back at the Valeri Lobanovskiy Stadium as assistant to coach Yuri Semin.
Danny Fiszman, Arsenal director
It is not the worst draw we could have had. Arsène Wenger's main issue will be the travel. Porto is not too bad but Kiev and Fenerbahçe [Istanbul] are long trips. That is the real issue for us. I don't think we have got it easy or we have a hard draw either. It is in the middle, with the problem of the distance of course. We look forward to meeting [former Arsenal defender] Oleh [Luzhny] again. I remember being there in Kiev when we bought him. He always did well for us and gave 100 per cent. Fenerbahçe are not going to be easy. They have great local support. The team will have to contend with the atmosphere as well as the opposition. Porto were [European] champions in 2004 so they cannot be underestimated.

Jesualdo Ferreira, Porto coach
Istanbul and Kiev are never easy places to play football. Fenerbahçe have reached the Champions League quarter-finals. As for Dynamo, besides the weather conditions in Kiev, we know Ukrainian teams have skill, physical strength and speed. Arsenal are always one of the strongest sides in this competition, although they have made some changes to their squad. But they will always be strong. Nevertheless, regardless of the draw, our goal is the same as always. We want to get beyond the group stage and, with the work we are doing, it is certain we will keep improving over the next few weeks.

Emre Belözoğlu, Fenerbahçe midfielder
We are used to playing in the Champions League. Fenerbahçe are a tough team for our opponents. All of our three opponents in Group G are pretty strong, especially at home. Nevertheless, I think we'll be able to qualify. We'll have a real advantage at home. If we win all of our home games, that makes nine points and this could be enough to take us through. I am hoping for a good start. If we concentrate, we can do that. Our aim will be to at least repeat last season's achievements.
Yuri Semin, Dynamo coach
We have a very even and very strong group. Our results against Spartak Moskva have made me feel confident. We played some great football. We will have to battle for second place in this group – there is no other choice.

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