Match Preview: Arsenal vs AS Monaco
We welcome AS Monaco to the Emirates Stadium as we look to solidify our position in the top eight of the Champions League.
After failing to capitalise on Manchester City dropping points and Liverpool not playing in our 1-1 draw against Fulham, we now turn our attention to Monaco, who come into this game level on points with us in the league phase table.
Monaco have started their season in impressive fashion, challenging PSG for top spot in Ligue 1 and also pushing for automatic qualification to the Champions League round of 16. This is Monaco's first time participating in the Champions League since their group stage elimination in the 2018/19 season.
Motivated Monaco
Adolf Hütter's men began their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over five-time winners of the competition, FC Barcelona. This started a four-game unbeaten run in the Champions League, leaving them with a real chance of automatic progression to the round of 16.
However, in their last European encounter, after taking the lead twice, Benfica snatched a 3-2 victory over The Red and Whites, handing them their first defeat of the campaign.
Last time at the Emirates
It's been a few years since our last encounter with Monaco in European competition, but the memories of a dramatic 2015-16 Champions League round of 16 tie still linger. In that encounter, we were eliminated on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate draw, following a 3-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg.
We found ourselves 1-0 down in the 38th minute after Geoffrey Kondogbia's thunderous 30-yard effort beat David Ospina.
After the break, Monaco doubled their lead following a counter-attack. 34-year-old Dimitar Berbatov found himself in acres of space and made no mistake with his finish.
As the game seemed destined to end 2-0, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave us hope for the return leg, curling one in from outside the box. However, the drama wasn't over. Yannick Carrasco broke through and drilled home Monaco's third, almost confirming Arsenal's exit from the competition.
What the manager says
Mikel Arteta:
On his thoughts on Monaco: "Really impressed. Really good side, you see the run they've been on in the Champions League and in the league, especially against top opposition, so a real threat."
On dealing with several injuries: "It is what it is. At the end if we have to accept the challenge and its opportunities for other players to do that. In the ideal scenario, we have to be in charge to make those decisions because it's forcing us to make it for the wrong reason, but as well, we need to accept the reality and move forwards."
On if there's an opportunity for Kieran Tierney to come back into the team: "Yeah, he is ready and he's training really well and he's going to have an opportunity for sure with the way the team is looking at the moment."
Team News
Mikel Arteta confirmed that we will have to make some late calls on the availability of players as "some of them will not be fit and available".
We were missing a quintet of defenders for our draw with Fulham. Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori have both been absent since starting our 5-2 win over West Ham at the end of November. Zinchenko, who started against Manchester United in the game prior, was also unavailable for the Fulham match due to an injury.
Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are long-term absentees.
Thomas Partey, who filled in at right back against Fulham, was not seen in training on Tuesday, leaving us with significant defensive vulnerabilities.
Former Arsenal man Folarin Balogun will miss Wednesday's clash after requiring surgery for a shoulder injury.
Statistics and Facts
Across the first five Champions League games this season, only Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala had a higher expected assist total (2.17) than Gabriel Martinelli (2.15).
Monaco have won five of their past seven matches against English sides in the Champions League, beating us in that run. It'll be their first game against a side from England since beating Man City 3-1 in March 2017.
Only Barcelona and Bayern Munich (both 7) have won more home games in the Champions League since the start of last season than us (8).
Saka has been involved in eight goals in his six home games in the competition (5 goals, 3 assists).
No side has kept a clean sheet when visiting the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League since Barcelona's 2-0 win in February 2016.
Match Officials
Italian referee Davide Massa will officiate our clash with AS Monaco. He regularly referees in Serie A domestically and has taken charge of three Champions League fixtures this season.
He averages just over one card per game in the Champions League this season.
Referee: Davide Massa (ITA)
Assistants: Filipo Meli (ITA), Stefano Alassio (ITA)
Fourth Official: Daniele Doveri (ITA)
VAR: Daniele Chiffi (ITA)
Assistant VAR: Aleandro Di Paolo (ITA)