Dougie Arnott: Big guns not a danger to Well

Aug 24 2008 By Gordon Waddell

MOTHERWELL legend Dougie Arnott hopes his old club get a show-stopper of a draw in the UEFA Cup on Friday - because the bigger they come the better Well get.

The former Fir Park favourite played in two of the four Euro outings in Motherwell's history.

But the Lanarkshire publican insists their clash with German giants Borussia Dortmund in the Westfalen Stadion is the one that will stick with him for life.

And he reckons any player worth his salt should want that kind of stage.

Well could be paired with ACMilan, Sevilla, Ajax or Everton when the first round draw is made in Monaco.

And Arnott, who saw red in the second leg against Dortmund, said: "The bigger the game the better Motherwell perform.

"Whenever we go to Celtic Park or Ibrox we always lift our game.

"It has been a while since the club were in Europe and our last trip in 1995 was a disappointment when we went out to MyPa-47.

"We lost 3-1 at home and nearly overturned it in Finland when Lee McCulloch hit the post at 2-0 up.

"But that was like playing on a junior park. My abiding memory of Europe, almost of my career, will be playing Dortmund at their place in 1994.

"We lost 1-0 away then 2-0 at home but going there was the pinnacle. They had nine internationals in their team each more famous than the last. Guys like Karl-Heinz Riedle, Matthias Sammer, Stephane Chapuisat, Andy Moller, Stefan Reuter. Itwas some side.

"Yet we could have had a result. Tommy Coyne had a couple of chances he normally would have put away.

"The atmosphere was also great and the fans mixed wonderfully. So in Friday's draw the bigger the better.

"You don't want to get put out by minnows. Get a big draw and enjoy it."

Arnott, who's preparing for a deserved testimonial on September 11, also warned Mark McGhee's side not to get their heads turned from the real business at hand - the SPL.

He said: "I watch Well when I can and loved the way they attacked teams last season. To finish third with Phil O'Donnell's death hanging over us was fantastic.

"Following it is always the hard bit, living up to the standards you've set.

"The SPL is still more important. I was there 12 years and we finished as high as second and third. But we came close to going down twice too."

The 44-year-old can't wait for his own special night at Fir Park next month.

The striker played 277 games for Well and scored 70 goals.

The only surprise is that it has taken this long for his exploits to be recognised.

But the clash against an Old Firm select will more than make amends for that.

Arnott said: "I'm proud the fans remember me so fondly.

"The one thing missing from the night will bemy dad Ronnie who passed away last year.

"Dad would have loved to have seen it - especially as my nephew Stuart will be playing for us on the night.

"He plays junior for Carluke Rovers and it will be emotional to think about dad looking down on both of us."