please log in to view this image Venue: Estadi Montilivi Date: Wednesday 29th January 2025 KO time: 20:00 GMT Match Preview: To begin with the hosts, Girona may have earned a legendary Champions League ticket last season for finishing third among Spain's elite, but Michel's squad has struggled openly in Europe. Last week, the Catalonian team fell 1-0 on the road against AC Milan, one of the biggest names in Italian football. They have now lost six of their seven Champions League matches this season. Already seeing their play-off hopes blown to smithereens, Girona have displayed several problems. As a result of last weekend's lacklustre performance in a 2-1 loss to Rayo Vallecano, Wednesday's hosts have now lost all three of their meetings in all competitions. It is worth noting that in their past four visits to the Estadi Montilivi, Michel's dejected team has lost three times. While the Gunners' hopes of winning the Premier League have taken a serious hit, the away team has been on fire lately. With last weekend's 1-0 away win against relegation-scrappers Wolves, Mikel Arteta's squad now has 10 points from four games in all competitions. Having recently stormed to a straightforward 3-0 victory against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League competition, the Gunners will seek another European marker in this match. Arsenal have not lost a game away from north London since returning from the international break in November, and they have recorded back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since mid-December. On Wednesday night, Arteta's squad will go to Catalonia with a 16–point total from seven Champions League encounters this season.
Rest Gabriel, Partey, Rice and Havertz. MLS is tricky. Would be good to know if his suspension is upheld really. Either way, him and Cala should be rested for this just in case. Raya Timber Saliba Kiwior Zinchenko Jorginho Merino Sterling Odegaard Trossard Martinelli
1-0. Danjuma. Not sure what Neto is doing there, but Partey was so poor as well. Yet again, another game where it shows why he shouldn't be playing RB. Not great all around.
Whipping crosses into the box for...5'8 Trossard?? Right then. Been a very mediocre performance so far. Against a team who have literally nothing to play for, this doesn't reflect well on us.
Girona could have made it 2 there. What the hell are we actually doing? We need to stop messing around with the ball. There's no technical security or composure at all.
Penalty to Arsenal. Our record from pens has been very iffy this season, so will be interesting to see who takes it... Jorginho takes it...aaand scores. 1-1.
2-1! Nwaneri! What a goal that is from the 17-year old! He cuts inside and just from outside the box, unleashes a fierce left-footed drive into the corner. Top, top finish.
HT. 1-2. Started OK, then there was a bit of a lull and Girona capitalised on our sloppiness. But that seemed to light a rocket up our backsides because we completely overran them from that point onwards. As it stands, we will be cruising into the last-16
2-2. Played ourselves into trouble because we were messing around with the ball, Girona picked our pocket and then they whip in a lovely cross for them to equalise.
