Arsenal have an amazing record of qualifying for the knockout round for 15th year in a row but does that make Arsenal’s Champions League journey a successful one? Arsenal have not qualified beyond the round of 16 stage in last 5 seasons.
Having said that, Arsene Wenger gets ready for an emotional re-union as he is set to host his former club AS Monaco in the round of 16 clash looking to progress through to the quarter finals for the first time in 5 years. Similar stakes are there for the French side who have failed to seal a Quarter Final berth since their shock final appearance in 2004.
Arsenal have the momentum coming in to this game having won 9 on the bounce at Emirates and conceding just 3 goals along the way. Many are ignoring Monaco’s challenege completely but Wenger would know, it will be a foolish thing to do. Especially if you look at Monaco’s stats which says they have lost just 1 out of their last 17 games (home & away).
Tactical Preview, Probable Line-ups, Key Battles, Stats and Prediction
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger will have to think long and hard to pick his midfield pair for this game with Ramsey, Flamini, Chamberlin and Wilshere all doubtful against Monaco. Wenger must be thanking his stars for the emergence of young Coquelin who has virtually made the defensive midfield position his own in recent weeks.
Santi Cazorla will be another key man for Arsenal as he has been in amazing form scoring in 4 of his last 6 appearances for the gunners. Arsenal will go with their tried and trusted 4-2-3-1 formation marking the return of Mesut Ozil in their Champions League line-up.
Star man Alexis Sanchez will hold the left wing and look to drift in centrally to influence the play for Arsenal. Up front in form Olivier Giroud will lead the lines and Danny Welbeck will support the Frenchman.
It is the defence which Arsenal will have to be wary of. Per Mertesecker and Laurent Koscielny aren’t the quickest when needed. Perhaps this game will suit them as they will be marking ever so relaxed and stylish Dimitar Berbatov. Pace won’t be the required skill for Arsenal defenders rather it will be the composure in their tackles and reading the play which will be asked off them.
Probable Line-up – Arsenal (4-2-3-1): David Ospina; Nacho Monreal, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Calum Chambers; Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin; Alexis Sánchez, Mesut Özil, Danny Welbeck; Olivier Giroud.
AS Monaco
Monaco will come in the game quietly confident knowing that they will be the underdogs and nothing great will be expected from them thus they can go out and express themselves. Monaco are no longer the rich French side buying superstars for fun.
Monaco have moved on from the Falcao & Rodriguez fiasco and now see Joao Moutinho, Ferreira Carrasco and Dimitar Berbatov being the main men for them. These three will hold the key for Monaco as they look to out stage Arsenal at Emirates.
Monaco will go in to the game with the most trusted European formation 4-2-3-1 where Moutinho will be the main man looking to break Arsenal’s passing rhythm and supply the balls to Carrasco who can be a handful for most defences in Europe.
The job of scoring would rely on Dimitar Berbatov who knows his opponent and the ground really well. Having spent more than 5 seasons in Premier League, Berbatov has scored crucial goals against Arsenal playing for Tottenham and Manchester United.
Probable Line-up – Monaco (4-2-3-1): Danijel Subašić; Elderson Echiéjilé, Aymen Abdennour, Wallace, Fabinho; Geoffrey Kondogbia, João Moutinho; Yannick Ferreira Carrasco, Bernardo Silva, Nabil Dirar; Dimitar Berbatov.
Opta Stats
- This is the first-ever competitive meeting between Arsenal and Monaco.
- Auxerre are the last French team to beat Arsenal, in the 2002/03 Champions League group stages (2-1 at Highbury).
- Arsenal are the only team, alongside Real Madrid, to have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League in every season since the new format in 2003/04. They have however been knocked out in the last 16 in each of the last four seasons.
- Arsenal haven’t conceded a single goal at the Emirates in three Champions League games against French opposition.
- Monaco hadn’t reached the knockout stages of the Champions League since 2004/05 when they were eventually eliminated out by PSV Eindhoven in the last 16.
- Monaco have gone through against English clubs in their last three knockout encounters: in the 1996/97 UEFA Cup quarter finals v Newcastle, in the 1997/98 Champions League quarter finals v Manchester United and in the 2003/04 Champions League semi-finals v Chelsea.
- Monaco have won none of their seven games away from home in the knockout stages of the Champions League (D2 L5).
- Monaco are the last French team to reach the final of the Champions League. It was in 2004 when they lost 3-0 to Jose Mourinho’s Porto.
Key Battles
Alexis Sanchez vs Ferreira Carrasco
The key creative forces for either sides. Sanchez and Carrsco have been in inspired for this season. Sanchez has already netted 3 Champions League goals while Carrasco has scored 4 goals in Ligue 1 campaign. Both like to attack from the left wing and take on the opponent defenders. On form, these two can take the game to a whole different level tonight.
Joao Moutinho vs Santi Cazorla
These two will be the engines for their respective sides tonight. Both have a dominant presence in center of the midfield for their sides and given a chance they can link-up with the attack with equal brilliance. Moutinho and Cazorla have the best eyes for a pass or a through ball in Europe. Opponent defence has to be wary of not allowing these two too much time on the ball.
Dimitar Berbatov vs HIMSELF
This man is a genius on his day and if he is not in the mood he can be an annoying player to support. So which Berbatov will turn up tonight will have to be seen. If Berbatov that we know can take to field, then watch out Arsenal fans he still wears Tottenham shirt somewhere down his sleeve.
Prediction
Whatever the result will be one thing is for sure, it wont be the easy for Arsene Wnger against his former side. Monaco have built their game of steady defense. Monaco qualified from group stage by scoring just 4 goals. In the French league they have the 2nd best defensive record behind league leaders Lyon.
I see this being a game between Arsenal’s intelligence against Monaco’s resolute. I am going for a close and edgy 1-0 win for Arsenal and carry the momentum in to the second leg.
Stats Credits: Opta
Image Credits: skysports, dailymail