The Champions League returns to North London (which postcode though? LOL!) as the Gunners lock horns with Arsene Wenger’s old club Monaco from France.
After drawing the likes of Bayern and Barcelona in recent years, Arsenal fans can be forgiven for looking at the French side as a gift horse that should not be looked in the mouth.
However, the visitors are in good form and they don’t concede many goals either. But Arsenal can be encouraged by the diversity of their goalscoring threat and their strong home record.
Not sure I expect many goals in this one. Monaco are a stubborn side and they may view the second leg as a more realistic chance to open up a little. They scored only four goals in the group stage but conceded only one, with a frankly binary looking set of scorelines.
Monaco ground out another 1-0 win this weekend over Nice and they will be confident of frustrating the Gunners. The onus will probably be on Wenger’s current side to break down his former squeeze.
Vital Quotes:
Arsene Wenger is adamant that his side will not be complacent against Monaco on Wednesday night, “We have been in the Champions League for 17 consecutive years and that means we would have not learned the lesson – easy is a word that you have to ban in the Champions League.
‘”Every time we were in there, it was hard-earned wins. It is always one-goal difference – you go out for one goal, you stay in for one goal and that means you have to work very hard.
“If you look at the teams who are competing they are always a reason to think it is difficult, so let us just try to do the next game, go into that with belief and humility, to try to give everything we can.
‘I heard yesterday, they [Monaco] say we have the pressure because we are favourites, for me it is a 50-50 game,” said Wenger. “There is a pressure on the game, but that is what you want.
“Personally I love that because there is a lot of stake and that is the type of game you want to play when you are a manager or a player. Monaco is a team who made 11 points at the group stage, scored four goals and conceded one, so that means they defend very well. That is what they will certainly try to do tomorrow and they are also very good on the break, quick in transition, so that is what we expect from them.”
Meanwhile, Monaco boss Leanardo Jardim admits that Arsenal ware favourites in thid first knockout round tie, ‘Everyone considered us a gift, a lucky draw, so the luck fell to Arsenal.
‘It’s normal that everyone thinks Arsenal will qualify. I too think Arsenal are favourites but in football sometimes money and the favourites don’t win.
”Clearly a number of teams were hoping to draw Monaco, but it does not mean that we have less ambition going into this game,’ Jardim is quoted as saying by PA.
‘We managed to qualify top of our group, and although we do not start this game as favourites, that should not stop us playing as we have.
‘We will try to be solid and not allow Arsenal’s midfield and key attacking players to unbalance us.’
Arsenal Team News:
Arsene Wenger has decided to rest Jack Wilshere until the weekend, despite his return from an ankle injury. David Ospina is fit despite a blow to the back this weekend.
Mathieu Debuchy (ankle), Mikel Arteta (ankle), Alex Oxlade Chamberlain (knee), Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) are out. Hector Bellerin (foot) should return. Olivier Giroud, Francis Coquelin and Gabriel have all been added to Arsenal’s Champions League squad since the group phase.
Arsenal (from); Szczesny, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Gabriel. Koscielny, Rosicky, Özil, Giroud, Ospina, Walcott, Alexis, Monreal, S.Cazorla, Flamini, Chambers, Welbeck, Coquelin, Akpom, Bellerin.
Player to watch: David Ospina
Not done enough to lose nor cement his place. There have been errors that have, thankfully, gone unpunished, but there have been some good saves and performances too.
Ospina is, I think, still adjusting to the physicality of the Premier League. He has required the physio regularly, whereas Szczesny uses his frame very cleverly to both avoid and inflict blows. A game against a French side may be more to Ospina’s tastes given his stint at Nice.
A.S Monaco Team News:
Monaco will give late fitness tests to Layvin Kurzawa and winger Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco. Jeremy Toulalan is suspended, Tiemou Bakayoko (thigh), João Moutinho (ankle), Matheus Carvalho and Andrea Raggi are out.
A.S. Monaco (from); Suba?ić, Fabinho, Kurzuwa, Abdennour, R.Carvalho, Dirar, Moutinho, Berbatov, Wallace, Bakayoko, Silva, Stekelenburg, Germain, Traore, Elderson, Kondogbia, Martial, Diallo.
Player to watch: Fabinho
It’s likely that the Brazilian full back will move into midfield given Monaco’s injury situation. He is a lateral in the Brazilian mould, keen to get forward, but with keen wits. He likes a tackle. Monaco may look to his directness on the counter.
Match Facts & Stats
Wenger was Monaco coach for seven years (1987-94) before leaving for Nagoya Grampus in Japan. This will be Wenger’s first official encounter with his old club.
This is the first competitive meeting between the sides.
Arsenal’s home record against French teams is W5 D3 L2.
Wenger has never lost a match back in France with Arsenal. His overall record against clubs from his home country with the Gunners is W10 D4 L2.
Leonardo Jardim’s side had the best defence in the group stage, conceding just one goal in six games.
Leonardo Jardim faced Arsenal as Olympiacos FC coach in the 2012/13 group stage, losing 3-1 in London but winning 2-1 at home.
None of Mikel Arteta (Paris Saint-Germain), Olivier Giroud (Montpellier Hérault SC) and Laurent Koscielny (FC Lorient) managed to beat Monaco in Ligue 1.
Mathieu Flamini and Nacho Monreal are both a yellow card away from a suspension.
Ref Watch:
The referee will be Germany’s Deniz Aytekin.
Match Prediction:
Monaco have many injuries but will still be a tough nut to crack I think. I’m going for 1-0 Arsenal, Alexis to score.
Next Fixtures:
Arsenal are at home to Everton on Sunday at 2.05pm, Monaco play at home to Paris Saint Germain on Sunday night at 8pm.