Galatasary have everything to play for

Istanbul - Arsenal and Leeds step onto the European stage today in the Uefa Cup semifinals, as English clubs continue their quest to lift both European trophies.

Arsenal entertain French club Lens at Highbury, hoping to inflict the first away defeat on the 1998 French champions in this year's competition, while Leeds visit Turkish giants Galatasaray in the Uefa Cup first-leg matches.

The prospect of an all-English final, the first since Spurs beat Wolves 3-2 on aggregate in 1972, is a distinct possibility as Arsene Wenger's Gunners and David O'Leary's young lions at Leeds have poured their considerable resources into this competition.

While Galatasaray have won everything on a domestic level, they have never reached a European final and will be looking for a strong home performance before going back to Elland Road for the return-leg.

Galatasaray are reportedly $60-million in debt and are relying heavily on Uefa Cup success to bail them out of their financial crisis. The Turkish parliament have said they will pass a bill for a $9-million one-off payment to the players, who have not been paid for months, should they win the trophy.

However, they have played superbly in Europe this season, eliminating AC Milan from the Champions League.

They are a team loaded with experience and in the seemingly ageless Romanian playmaker Georghe Hagi, the "Maradona of the Carpathians", possess a player capable of unlocking the tightest of defences.

Leeds, meanwhile, have gone off the boil, losing their last three matches, the Uefa Cup quarter-final second-leg tie at Slavia Prague and Premier League defeats against Leicester and Chelsea.

O'Leary knows he has to pick his team up for the clash.

"We have to consolidate and bounce back quickly from this, but only time will tell if we can."

Republic of Ireland international midfielder Stephen McPhail remained upbeat.

"We are in the last four in Europe and that's an honour. We have to show no fear and go out and play," he said.

Arsenal, meanwhile, seem to have moved up a gear and are back in the thick of the race for Champions League places for next year, picking up a convincing 3-1 away win at Wimbledon at the weekend.

They will not need reminding how dangerous Lens can be as it was the French club who sent them reeling from Champions League play last season - winning 1-0 at Wembley and holding them to a 1-1 draw in the northern French city.

Unfortunately, their on-fire French international striker Thierry Henry, who scored his 20th goal of the season against Wimbledon, is suspended after being controversially sent-off in the second-leg quarter-final win over Werder Bremen.

Arsenal appealed against the sending-off and Henry was only given a one-game suspension instead of the normal three, which means he will be free to play in the return leg and, if necessary, the final in Copenhagen.

Skipper Tony Adams is also ruled out after failing to recover from his persistant groin injury, while Dutch winger Marc Overmars is doubtful with a thigh injury.

World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit has lost his voice due to the 'flu but should be in the centre of midfield alongside his compatriot Patrick Vieira, while Dennis Bergkamp faces a late fitness test over a calf injury.

Nigeria's international striker Nwankwo Kanu has been cleared to play by his country's federation and will fly out the day after the match to play in a 2002 World Cup qualifier.

Lens, meanwhile, are also looking for their first European final appearance, despite a mediocre domestic season which finds them in the lower-half of the table and not quite safe from the relegation demons. - Sapa-AP