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UEFA Champions League: Thun ready to spring latest surprise at Arsenal [Tue Sep 13th, 2005]
Bern, Switzerland (Reuters) - Tiny Swiss side Thun believe they can cause the first shock of the group phase in their UEFA Champions League debut at Arsenal.
The club with an annual budget of just 5.5 million Swiss francs (US$4.39 million) will be rank outsiders for the Group B game, despite Arsenal's faltering start to the season, which featured a 2-1 defeat by Middlesborough on Saturday.
"Nobody said we would be able to get past Dynamo Kiev during the qualifying rounds, so we already know we can surprise people if we play our game perfectly," Thun captain Andres Gerber said after Saturday's 0-0 draw at Young Boys Bern.
"Just saying that sounds arrogant when you're up against a team like Arsenal. But we know we can achieve something if we are really at our best."
Gerber sat out Saturday's match with an inflamed tendon, but is expected to return to the Thun midfield at Highbury.
Cameroon defender Armand Deumi has also returned to training after being out for a month with a groin injury -- but lack of match fitness may keep him out of the starting lineup.
"It's hard to imagine him coming straight back in for such an important match after being out for so long," Thun coach Urs Schoenenberger told reporters.
"No matter who plays, though, we will have to make a lot fewer mistakes against Arsenal than we did against Bern, or it will be very difficult."
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