Arsenal vs Monaco predicted lineups and team news
Both Arsenal and Monaco will be hoping to boost their chances of a top-eight finish in the revamped Champions League when they clash at the Emirates on Wednesday evening at 20:00, live on TNT Sports and TNT Sports Ultimate.
The pair have collected 10 points each from their opening five matches, leaving them right in the mix for one of the eight automatic qualifying spots for the last-16 stage of the competition.
Arsenal vs Monaco Predicted XIs
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Timber; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
Monaco (4-2-3-1): Majecki; Vanderson, Salisu, Kehrer, Henrique; Zakaria, Camara; Akliouche, Ben Seghir, Golovin; Embolo.
Dropped points hurting the Gunners
Having finished second in the Premier League in the last two seasons, Arsenal were tipped to put in another strong challenge and potentially dethrone Manchester City as champions.
Fifteen games into the domestic campaign and the Gunners find themselves third in the standings, six points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and two points adrift of second-placed Chelsea.
The Gunners dropped further points in the title race on Sunday after being held 1-1 by Fulham at Craven Cottage and there is already a big deficit to make up for in the title race.
So often Mikel Arteta’s side would find a way to get the three points over the last two seasons, but that hasn’t been the case this term and the chances of winning silverware may rest on the cup competitions.
READ MORE: Arsenal vs Monaco prediction and betting tips
Arsenal vs Monaco Team news
Arsenal have plenty of defensive concerns heading into this clash, with Oleksandr Zinchenko the latest to join the treatment room after missing the Fulham draw at the weekend due to a muscular issue.
The Ukrainian is a doubt for this game, as are Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori, while Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are definitely out due to knee injuries.
Scotland international Kieran Tierney, who is yet to play this season and who has been named on the bench just four times, could potentially be brought in the starting XI.
If given the nod the 27-year-old would likely slot in at left-back, thus allowing Jurrien Timber to move over to his favoured right-back position, although it’s unclear if Arteta would throw the Scot back into the fold in such an important fixture.
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Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli both came off the bench at Craven Cottage and the pair are expected to be handed starting opportunities.
Visitors Monaco also have a couple of absentees at the back, with Singo and Christian Mawissa both suspended. Former Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu is expected to start at centre-back.
In attack, Folarin Balogun misses the chance to face his former employers after being ruled out with a shoulder problem.
The French outfit are further limited in the final third as Krepin Diatta and Edan Diop are also sidelined because of muscle and foot issues respectively.
Breel Embolo netted his third goal of the campaign in the 2-0 Ligue 1 win over Toulouse last time out and he will be eager to add to his Champions League tally, having scored in the 5-1 thrashing of Crvena Zvezda on matchday three.
