Arsenal and Monaco were seventh and eighth going into the sixth round of the UEFA Champions League’s new group stage (slipping to 10th and 11th after Tuesday’s games), meaning their face-off could well prove to be pivotal in both sides’ quest to earn a direct ticket to the Round of 16. So, even without the threat of elimination for either side, they will likely produce an interesting match.
By Neel Shelat
Defensive deficiencies for both sides
Both teams will be without some key defensive players for this match, albeit for different reasons.
Gabriel Magalhães, Benjamin White and Riccardo Calafiori are all expected to miss the game for Arsenal, while rotation option Takehiro Tomiyasu remains sidelined and Oleksandr Zinchenko also missed the weekend’s match against Fulham. Mikel Arteta found a creative solution for that fixture as Jurriën Timber was shifted across to the left of the back line and Thomas Partey dropped to the right, so it will be interesting to see whether a more conventional option like Kieran Tierney is preferred for this relatively lower-stakes game.
Arsenal drew that game at Fulham, taking their current unbeaten run to six games, in all competitions.
Monaco, on the other hand, have to deal with a couple of suspensions. Versatile defender Wilfried Singo’s red card led to their dramatic defeat against Benfica in the last round, while young Christian Mawissa received his third yellow card of the Champions League season in that game. Krépin Diatta, who has mostly been used as a right back this season, is also out injured.
Despite these absences, both defences can be expected to hold firm as they have conceded the second-lowest xG tally in their respective leagues. In a potentially tight match, Arsenal may well turn to set-pieces again having scored from corners in each of their last four games. However, they might meet their match in this respect too as Monaco have conceded the fewest shots from set-pieces in Ligue 1 this season.
Monaco’s youngsters raring to impress
23-year-old USMNT striker Folarin Balogun will miss the opportunity to reunite with former club Arsenal as he too is out injured, but Monaco have a whole host of other youngsters who will be keen to impress.
Chief among them will be teenage Moroccan international Eliesse Ben Seghir, who is equally capable of scoring and creating goals as his tally of four goals and three assists in Ligue 1 this season shows. Rotating between the left and central attacking positions in Monaco’s 4-2-3-1 formation, he is sure to excite whenever he gets on the ball.
Ben Seghir can rather steal the spotlight away from some of his teammates at times, especially fellow attacker Maghnes Akliouche. The French youth international has four goals and as many assists to his name for Monaco on the back of a busy summer in which he was a part of France’s silver medal-winning Olympic side.
Senegalese midfielder Lamine Camara and Brazilian right back Vanderson should also be considered ones to watch, while 18-year-old striker George Ilenikhena will look to make an impact off the bench again.
Prediction
Monaco have adopted a pretty intense style of play under Adi Hütter this season, but it might just prove to be their undoing against an Arsenal side who have grit and star power in equal measure. The Gunners could well record a narrow victory.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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