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Arsenal braces for another crucial challenge as they clash with Monaco in their Champions League Matchday 6 showdown. Mikel Arteta, grappling with significant hurdles that have disrupted his campaign, will aim for a resounding victory to dispel the sting of recent setbacks, including dropped points against Fulham.
Meanwhile, Monaco is enjoying a strong season, just five points behind league leaders PSG. With plenty of games still ahead, their aspirations for silverware remain alive and well. All signs point to an interesting encounter on the pitch today.
The North London faithful will always hold Monaco in high regard for nurturing one of the greatest football managers, Arsène Wenger. A pivotal figure in the club's history, Wenger played a crucial role in guiding them to silverware.
From possible starting XIs to Fantasy predictions, here is everything you need to know about the League match of Arsenal vs AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25.
Match Details
Match: Arsenal vs AS Monaco - UEFA Champions League 2024-25 League Match
Date: 12 December 2024
Time: 1:30 AM IST
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London, England
How to watch the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 League Match between Arsenal and AS Monaco
The match will be streamed Live on the Sony Liv app and website. Viewers can also watch the game live on TV on Sony Sports Network.
Match Preview
There is no doubt that Arsenal is the stronger side heading into this fixture the stronger side however it is interesting to note that after 5 games both teams have amassed the same number of points although the London club seat higher on the table based on goal difference it does not in any way reduce the fact the Arteta's men remain a significant threat.
In recent weeks Arsenal has been nicknamed the set-piece kings due to their proficiency in converting set-piece situations to goals from the deliveries to their arrangement in the box everything seems well-tailored to cause significant problems for any team and that should be a huge worry for Adolf Hutter.
A respite for the French team is the fact that Arsenal has struggled against teams that set themselves in a defensive midblock this is significantly so because the team thrives heavily on ball retention and circulation and teams that are midblock easily readjust their defensive line to combat such teams.
The last time the visitors won back-to-back UCL games on the road, their second success coincidentally came against none other than Arsenal, whom they conquered 3-1 at the Emirates in February 2015 before a 2-0 home loss in the second leg of that last-16 tie, which still sent Wenger's team out on away goals.
Head- to Head Stats
Monaco and Arsenal have faced each other 4 times with two of those encounters being competitive games a Champions League knockout fixture in 2015 that saw the hosts exit the competition and the other two were in the Emirates Cup
Matches Played- 4
Arsenal win- 2
Monaco win- 2
Team News
Arsenal
Hard at work ahead of Monaco tomorrow ✊ pic.twitter.com/1yAK5pND1D
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 10, 2024
Arsenal’s recent clash with Fulham highlighted Mikel Arteta’s ongoing defensive conundrum, as he was forced to deploy his ninth different backline of the Premier League campaign. This reshuffle was necessitated by a late injury to Oleksandr Zinchenko, who remains a doubt for the crucial Champions League encounter with Monaco.
Gabriel Magalhães and Riccardo Calafiori face similarly uncertain fitness prospects, while Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are definitively sidelined with knee injuries. With options dwindling, Arteta may be compelled to take a bold gamble by reinstating a previously out-of-favor defender.
Kieran Tierney, a member of Arsenal’s Champions League squad, seems a likely candidate for a starting role on Wednesday. Alternatively, Myles Lewis-Skelly could provide an unconventional solution at the back. The crisis deepened further as Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey were absent from Tuesday’s training session. This scenario could pave the way for one of the Under-21 stars, Josh Robinson or Josh Nichols, to step up as a makeshift right-back.
Monaco
Last training session before the trip to London! ✈️🏴 pic.twitter.com/ntvLHGO1fy
— AS Monaco EN 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco_EN) December 10, 2024
The French side will also contend with defensive absences, albeit for disciplinary and fitness reasons. Wilfried Singo is suspended following a red card, while Christian Mawissa is out due to an accumulation of bookings. Coach Adi Hütter is expected to call on Mohammed Salisu to partner Thilo Kehrer at the heart of the defense.
In attack, Monaco will be without former Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun, who is sidelined with a shoulder injury, dashing hopes of a reunion. The Ligue 1 side’s woes are compounded by injuries to Denis Zakaria (undisclosed), Krépin Diatta (muscle), and Edan Diop (foot), leaving Hütter with a depleted squad for this pivotal showdown.
Possible Starting XI
Arsenal's possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Monaco's possible starting lineup:
Majecki; Vanderson, Salisu, Kehrer, Henrique; Matazo, Camara; Akliouche, Ben Seghir, Golovin; Embolo
Fantasy XI
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kehrer, Tierney, Rice, Odegaard, Merino, Saka, Havertz, Embolo