An interesting week of Champions League action saw three of the four English clubs seal their qualification for the knock out stages with a game to spare.
Ironically the only one still not guaranteed a place in the last sixteen is Arsenal, despite opening their campaign with three wins out of three and a record goals tally of 14.
Of course the likelihood is they will still make it through, as they only need to beat the groups bottom side Partizan Belgrade at The Emirates in a fortnights time, but the fact that it has gone down to the last game at all is a major cause for concern for Arsene Wenger.
The away games at Shaktah and Braga stank of complacency and if the worst does happen on December 8th then they will only have themselves to blame for thinking the job was done after only three games.
In contrast Spurs have exceeded all expectations with a thrilling campaign that has seen them top a group containing the current holders Inter Milan. How much further they can go remains to be seen but judging by their efforts so far no one will fancy the trip to White Hart Lane, where they have rattled in 10 goals in three games.
Manchester United and Chelsea both eased through their groups with relative comfort and will go into the knock out stage among the favourites to go all the way, but an English winner looks very unlikely despite the final being held at Wembley.
Barcelona again look the team to beat, especially with Lionel Messi in unbelievable form, but Jose Mourinho got the better of them last year and he will fancy his chances again this time with new charges Real Madrid.
The former Chelsea and Inter Milan coach was in the news this week after it appeared he gave instructions to two of his players, Alonso and Ramos, to get themselves sent off at Ajax to wipe their disciplinary records clean.
The manner of the sending offs, both for blatant and not-at-all subtle time wasting, looks set to be investigated by UEFA but anything other then a fine for the club would be a major shock.
Once again Mourinho has bent the rules to suit himself and the fact that he is likely to get away with it again just makes a complete mockery of the competition.
Lets hope for the good of the game he is not celebrating at Wembley again in May as it really is about time that smug grin was wiped off his greasy face once and for all. Personally I would love Arsenal to be the team to do it but after recent events, alas, that appears to be very unlikely...
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