Arsenal v Montpellier; Champion’s League Match Preview

Arsenal will look to resestablish a rather long and healthy run of play at home in the Champion’s League that came to an end on 24 October when Schalke won 2-0 at the Emirates. They’ll look to do this against Montpellier HSC whom they beat 2-1 on Matchday 1 to open this season’s Champion’s League run.

Should Arsenal beat Montepellier and Schalke beat Olympiakos, Arsenal can book another consecutive trip the knock out stages of Europe’s most presitigous club competition.

Montpellier has had a horrid time of it in the competition. They have only registered 1 point in the tournament, a drawagainst group leaders Schalke. But they’ve given their opponents a tough time of – something Arsenal can attest to. The current French title holders outshot Arsenal and looked a bigger threat than the 2-1 score line may have dictated. They opened their account on a Belhanda penalty in the 9th minute of the previous tie only to lose control of the match on two  goals in succession by both Podolski and Gervinho.

Arsenal look to be slowly turning the ship around. They’ve now gone 3 matches unbeaten and while not overly impressive in those wins, the emphatic 5-2 win over Tottenham in the North London Derby, could be a catalyst for further improvement. Surely, European sides won’t come at them with the same pressure that was seen by English sides.  There should be operating room for Mikel Arteta to bring the ball out from the back and get Cazorla and Wilshere involved.

Arsenal are back to addition and subtraction in the injury front and one is a cause for a little concern. Theo Walcott is missing the match as he is having a scan on his shoulder to see ther extent of any damage he suffered when he fell on it during the tie versus Spurs. Additionally, Andre Santos will be out with a pulled abdomen. However, while those two go,two return to the fold as Kieran Gibbs and Gervinho are both fit for this match.

Wenger recognizes that his side can’t be complacent. they can ill-afford to take an approach that saw them lose to Schalke a month ago. The lack of pace, incisive play, and crips passing made the Gunners look dull and feeble. While Montpellier looks like not much of a threat, an approach like that and Arsenal will experience some trouble.

There has to be a concerted effort to build on the energy and display from Saturday. To come out flat in this competition with a lot at stake would only kill all the good will garnered from the win will be for naught.

Key Battles:
Giroud v Yanga-MBwia. The former Montpellier striker will go head to head with his former teammate.

Vermaelen v Cabella. Arsenal stuggled to control Cabella in the first tie in France. If Arsenal can contain via Vermaelen, they can shut down one of the visitors most potent weapons.

Players to watch:

Arsenal: Olivier Giroud. He’s been turning it on, netting 5 goals in his last 6 matches, one of them coming against Schalke in the Champion’s League. Arsenal have shown a desire to cross the ball more and it is benefitting the big man up front.

Montpellier:  Younnes Belhanda. Showed his class in the first tie and caused Arsenal all sorts of problems. Put on a good audition for all the English teams watching him

Projected Lineups:
Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla;  Podolski, Oxlade-Chamberlains; Giroud

Montpellier: Jourden; Congre, Yanga-Mbiwa, El Kaoutari, Bedimo; Cabella, Estrada, Belhanda, Saihi; Charbonnier, Camara

Arsenal Injuries and Suspensions:
Fabiański (back) Walcott (shoulder) Santos (abdomen) Diaby (thigh) Rosický (tendon)

Leading Scorers (UCL):
Arsenal: Gervinho 2, Podolski 2

Montpellier: Belhanda 2

Head to Head Tournament Stats:

Match Official:
Referee: Fırat Aydınus (TUR)
Assistant referees: Serkan Ok (TUR), Alek Tascioglu (TUR)
Additional assistant referees: Mete Kalkavan (TUR), Tolga Özkalfa (TUR)
Fourth official: Çem Satman (TUR)

Broadcast Information:

US: FoxSoccer.Tv 2:35 PM EST/Fox Soccer Channel 5:00 PM EST (rebroadcast)

UK: SkySports 4 1945 BST

YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2

Montpellier: 1

Manager’s Remarks:

Arsène Wenger, manager:

Saturday was an important win; it’s a good basis to build on and go on to the next game with a stronger belief, more united, and of course more determined to play our game. What we know is what we want and we want a win because we have a good opportunity to finish the job and qualify. A win is essential because it could get us over the line.

We will take it step by step. First we want to qualify, then if we can top the group … But let’s win the game first. It’s important that after the Tottenham game we have another good performance and resolute attitude. If we produce another quality level of performance we will win.

There’s no risk that this team is complacent; they want to do so well that when it doesn’t they suffer a bit with confidence, but not for a second would I think that the team could be complacent. They will be full of desire to do well and to win the game. I’m convinced of that.

René Girard, coach

It’s a great match for us, a very important game. As I have said to the lads, in terms of the Champions League, qualification is over, but we still have slight hope of qualifying for the Europa League. Beyond that we need to prepare well for our league form and continue to build. We have some very important games coming up and must be ready.

When you have the privilege and the opportunity to come and play in the Champions League – all the lads really dreamt of this and fought all last season to get here – you have to respect the game. For me it’s an absolute privilege to come to a stadium like this to play against Arsenal.

We’ve got nothing to lose, but against a side like Arsenal you have to make sure you get into the game. We showed at home we have the ability to cause them problems. We need to be solid as a unit, strong at the back, and stay focused throughout the game. Then we may have the chance to get the result, but we’re coming up against a side that plays some of the best attacking football all over Europe.

Match Facts:

• The Schalke defeat was Arsenal’s first against non-English opposition in 45 home UEFA Champions League outings since a 3-0 defeat by FC Internazionale Milano at Highbury in September 2003.
• It was also their first in 17 home games in the competition, play-offs included, since a 3-1 reverse by Manchester United in the 2008/09 semi-finals.
• The Gunners are in the group stage for the 15th campaign in a row. In 2011/12 Arsène Wenger’s side departed in the round of 16 for the second season running. It was the 12th successive time they had made it through the group and only the second campaign since 2006/07 that they had failed to reach the quarter-finals or better.
• Arsenal won four of their five home games in last season’s competition, the exception a 0-0 draw with Olympique de Marseille on matchday four. They had victories over Udinese Calcio in the play-off round, Olympiacos and Borussia Dortmund in the group stage and AC Milan (3-0) in the round of 16 second leg, bowing out having lost 4-0 in Italy.