IF, AFTER the weekend, you still have the stomach to look at them, then take a glance at the English clubs involved in tomorrow's Champions League group stage matches.

Arsenal and Manchester United.

I'm still scratching my head. I mean, what are we to make of their run-ups to these matches?

Arsenal was bashed and bullied by Manchester City at Eastlands, losing 3-0. A most humiliating result.

And Manchester United? What's there to say? They had a proud record against Aston Villa washed away when, for 90 minutes, their star-studded strikers couldn't discover their scoring touch.

A goalless draw? Where are they going to hide their faces?

Anyway, they now meet European opponents - the Gunners are at home and United must travel to El Madrigal to meet Villarreal.

Can they turn their dismal weekend show into a winning midweek adventure?

The jury's out.

However, and you may be surprised to hear me say this, I reckon Arsenal have a first-rate chance of coming up with a triumphant response.

Indeed, I have this sneaky feeling that Arsene Wenger has already given up on the Premiership and is now all focused on the Champions League.

I still can't forget how they knocked the wind out of Porto's sails when they visited The Emirates in late September.

The Gunners rattled off four goals. Porto could only watch the nightmare unfold.

That has been Arsenal's formula in this contest. Lightning raids. Big wins. They then travelled to Turkey where they hit five past a shell-shocked Fenerbahce side who could only reply with two of their own.

Now, Wenger's men must meet Dynamo Kiev and, given the fact that the Russian club were handed a 2-1 beating by Porto, I cannot see the visitors getting anything from this visit to London.

As for United, their priorities are still divided. One half of Alex Ferguson is pulling for the Premiership where they are still in with a shout. The other half of him is leaning towards the Champions League.

The thing is, he has to do both with a lean - and not so mean - squad.

Dimitar Berbatov, scorer of four European goals, is injured. Wayne Rooney's blowing hot and cold - more cold, actually - while Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to shine on the continent.

Then, of course, there's Villarreal. They will fancy their chances against the English champions and will want to end this stage of the proceedings as group leaders. Three points will do it.

Spoils

But I will be looking seriously at them sharing the spoils, which will also ensure them both of qualification. United had a dress rehearsal with that 0-0 result at Villa Park on Sunday morning. It could shape up to be another goalless affair for which the bookmakers are offering $8.50.

I also fancy the chances of Real Madrid. Beaten home and away by Juventus in their last two matches of this campaign, they will want to put things right and what better time to do it than now.

Their opponents, BATE, hold up the bottom of Group H and were 2-0 victims when they travelled to the Bernabeu in September. They could be cruising to another bruising.

So, when you plan your betting strategy, make Madrid your banker, have Arsenal winning on the 1x2 ($1.33) and the 1/2 Goal ($2) and have something riding on a draw ($3) when United line up against Villarreal.

Then sit back and, hope there is no economy in effort from the English duo.