Arnett ready to tackle ‘unknown’ Racing Club Aruba

ARNETT GARDENS head coach Xavier Gilbert said his team is ready to kick off their Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Shield campaign when they face an “unknown” Racing Club Aruba (RCA) this Saturday.

Arnett will enter the competition in the round of 16 against their Aruban opponents with the hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals.

Gilbert said his team had started their preseason preparations early to ensure the players would be ready for this competition.

“We started our preseason a little bit earlier. It’s not ideal, but we’re happy with where are right now heading into the club championship,” he said.

“We played a couple of practice games and I’m pleased with some aspects.

“Hopefully, we can get everything right heading into the tournament and put on a good show and make sure we advance to the next stage,” he added.

Arnett have been drawn alongside reigning Aruban champions RCA. Gilbert admitted the team is a relative unknown to his players but said they have started their research into them.

He said another area of concern will be the fact the match will be played on artificial turf at the Rignaal ‘Jean’ Francisca Stadium in host nation, Curaçao.

Gilbert said the turf will be unfamiliar for his players but insisted Arnett will stick to their trademark attacking style of play.

“They are unknown to us,” he said. “We watched a couple of their games. It was not the best footage that we got, but we saw some things. Tactically, we’re just going to have to be prepared for them and make sure that we get the result.

“At the end of the day, everybody starts at zero and on a level playing field so you have to go there and perform.”

Arnett is currently ranked as one of the best clubs in CONCACAF and are expected to be one of the title contenders.

Gilbert said Arnett will be aiming to capture the CFU Club Shield title and join fellow Jamaican clubs Cavalier FC and Mount Pleasant Football Academy in the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup.

“That is our objective and that is what we’re planning to do. We’ve put in everything that we need to put in to make sure that we join Mount Pleasant and Cavalier. We’re mindful and we’re prepared for what to expect. Hopefully, we’ll put it all together for the task at hand.”