A match for which my wife and I had flights, hotel (both non refundable) and match tickets all in place, only for the Home Office to decide to hold onto our passports just a little bit longer than planned. So our trip for mission impossible is reluctantly cancelled.
For Arsenal however, the assignment is very clear, though the clarity of detail does not make it any easier to achieve. They must score at least three times against one of Europe’s meanest defences to stand any chance of qualifying.
It is not impossible of course, Arsenal have given the likes of Bayern and A.C. Milan an almighty scare from similar positions in recent years, but the reality suggests that the Gunners will almost certainly exit the competition tonight.
However, how they do it, could be key. I think it is important that Arsenal win the game, even if only by a goal or two. The cobwebs of the first leg defeat seem to have been blown away with our corresponding form and it is important to maintain that momentum.
At 1-2, Monaco might have panicked and found themselves unsure of how to approach this game. However, with the Gunners requiring three, they’ve no need to be caught between stalls. They can simply sit back and make Arsenal tiring themselves out from over punching. Which, sadly for Arsenal, plays exactly to their strengths.
Vital Quotes:
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says the ideal way to mark his return to his old club is to eliminate them from the competition, ‘”For me, personally, it`s a very special moment because I was a young coach here at Monaco and I stayed here for seven years,” Wenger told his pre-game press conference on Monday evening.
“It`s a Champions League game so I know the experience I have gained can help me make the right decisions. I`m able to separate the importance of the game from [my responsibility] to my club and the delight at being back in Monaco.
“Is it not as enjoyable [visiting when 3-1 down]? Well I wouldn`t say that, for me the way to enjoy it the most would be for us to do better and to turn it [the tie] around.
“My real pleasure would be to come back here and see my friends in a non-competition environment, but here I`m here for work and my actual work, my job, is to help my team win.
“Of course, I have a lot of respect and I want to thank the whole club who gave me the opportunity as a young coach.”
Wenger also urged the importance of patience as his side chase three goals, ‘”I believe we just have to play with full power, but not forget our organisation and the structure in the team. The goals will come when they come.
“[We must] focus on the quality of our game on both sides, defensively and offensively, and nobody can predict when the goals come.”
Reflecting on the first-leg, he added: “We got it wrong in the first game. What you want in life is the chance to put it right. We have the opportunity to put it right and after, no matter what, we will be ready to give everything to do it.
“We are in a position where today Monaco is favourite. We can go there and create something special. I believe that we will have the desire to do it and give absolutely everything to do it.
“I`d prefer to be 3-0 up but we have no choice. We have to put it right. Sometimes in life, you make a big mistake, and there`s no comeback, no way you get the chance to put it right again. In football, you can do it, so let`s just give everything to do it.”
Monaco manager Leandro Jardim has warned his players not to succumb to complacency as they protect a 3-1 first leg lead, ‘At this stage we’re now at half-time and we’re two goals ahead but it’s true that our opponents have so many quality players in their squad. So it will be very difficult for us and everyone knows if it will be the most difficult game we’ve had in years.
”I don’t think Arsenal underestimated – it’s just that we played a dream game at the Emirates. When facing such a team as Arsenal with players like Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck, it’s true we can’t take it easy and have to focus on the game we played at Emirates.
‘In comparison to pervious years French teams are playing at a better level in the Champions League. Paris Saint-Germain knocked out Chelsea and they showed the quality of the work done here in France. It was the same case for Monaco. What we’re trying to do is to show the quality of the work. Maybe it’s the year of France to beat the English.’
A.S. Monaco Team News:
Monaco will be without Andrea Raggi (knee) and Lacina Traore. Tiemoue Bakayoko is also out with a hamstring injury.
Jeremy Toulalan and Geoffrey Kondogbia face late fitness checks on thigh injuries.
A.S. Monaco (from); Subasic, Fabinho, Kurzawa, Abdennour, R.Carvalho, Dirar, Moutinho, Berbatov, Ocampos, Wallace, M.Carvalho, Silva, Stekelenburg, Germain, Lopez, Elderson, Kondogbia, Martial, A.Traore, Toulalan, Dialo.
Player to watch: Fabinho
Capable of playing at right back or in front of the defence, the Brazilian has recently been called into Dunga’s squad for friendlies against France and Chile in recognition of his recent form.
Whichever role he plays tonight, he will be key to Monaco’s counter attacking strategy. He is a tenacious and quick player, capable of creating transitions with his tough tackling and quick feet.
Arsenal Team News:
Arsenal have Gabriel back from a hamstring problem, Tomas Rosicky misses out due to illness.
Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder) and Mikel Arteta (ankle) are training again but not ready to play. Jack Wilshere (ankle), Alex Oxlade Chamberlain (hamstring) are both out.
Arsenal (from); Szczesny, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Koscielny, Ozil, Giroud, Ospina, Walcott, Ramsey, Alexis, Monreal, S.Cazorla, Flamini, Chambers, Welbeck, Coquelin, Bellerin.
Player to watch: Olivier Giroud
He has been in very good form this season, but the first leg of this encounter may still haunt him a little. Giroud’s finishing was rushed and disappointing that night.
What better way to redeem himself than by spearheading an unlikely Arsenal victory tonight?
Match Facts & Stats
No team has ever gone into a Champions League away tie needing more than one goal to progress and achieved it. Arsenal need three.
Teams have come back from a home first-leg loss only twice in the UEFA Champions League, and both were beaten 1-0 first time out: AFC Ajax (v Panathinaikos FC, 1995/96 semi-finals, 3-0 second leg) and FC Internazionale Milano (v FC Bayern München, 2010/11 round of 16, 3-2 away).
Monaco are eyeing their first UEFA Champions League quarter-final since 2003/04, the season they went all the way to the final.
Monaco are unbeaten in eight European games at Stade Louis II, since a 2-0 loss to PSV Eindhoven in March 2005. They have not been defeated at home by a margin that would knock them out since a 3-0 loss to another English club, Leeds United AFC, on 12 September 1995 – 40 games ago.
When winning the away first leg in UEFA competition, Monaco’s aggregate record is W9 L0.
Arsenal’s last victory in the round of 16 was against FC Porto (6-2 aggregate) in 2009/10, since when they have suffered elimination against FC Barcelona (2010/11), AC Milan (2011/12) and Bayern (2012/13 and 2013/14).
Arsenal have never lost in France, where their record reads W7 D3 L0.
Arsenal have a 100% record (W4 L0) in two-legged ties against French teams.
Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco, Moutinho and Layvin Kurzawa will all incur a suspension with their next bookings. Mathieu Flamini, Nacho Monreal and Mesut Ozil are all a yellow card away from suspension.
Stats courtesy of uefa.com
Ref Watch:
Sven Oddvar Moen from Norway will referee this one.
Match Prediction:
I think Arsenal will win 2-0 with goals from Giroud and Cazorla. A good try, but ultimately it won’t be enough.
Next Fixtures:
Arsenal are away at Newcastle United at 3pm on Saturday. Monaco play away at Reims at 4pm on Sunday.