please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal travel to the Stade de la Mosson to take on Montpellier as another Champions League campaign gets underway. Arsenal will begin their 15th successive year in the Champions League and their recent record of progressing out of the group stage, is second to none. The Gunners were placed in pot one and got drawn against Montpellier, Olympiacos and Schalke in group B. Olympiacos have become familiar opponents to Arsenal in the Champions League so the Gunners will be wary of their threat, especially in Greece. Montpellier will pose a fresh challenge to the Gunners as this is the first ever meeting between the two teams. Arsenal will go into this game on the back of brilliant win over Southampton at the Emirates. Arsenal were at their fluent best and tore Southampton into pieces and ran out 6-1 winners in the end. Arsenal in that form are as good to watch as any team In Europe, and Arsenal fans will be hoping to see more of the same against the French Champions this Tuesday in Europe. Arsenal’s impressive clean sheet run came to an end against Southampton and that was the only blight in an otherwise impressive performance. Montpellier in contrast to the Gunners are not in very good form and will come into this game having lost their previous game in Ligue 1. They were on the wrong end of a 3-1 defeat to Ligue 1 minnows Reims. Montpellier have lost three of their five leagues game this season and their form will be of serious concern to their manager, René Girard. The game against Arsenal is going to be a special one for the French Champions as it’s their first ever game in the Champions League, so it will be a historical night in the Stade de la Mosson. For, Arsenal these nights are nothing new and they will be looking to start their Champions League campaign with a win. But, Arsenal are not used to winning away in Europe with any sort of regularity. In fact, in the last three years, they have only won away four times. Compared to the other teams in pot one it’s far from impressive. Arsenal did win in their last trip to France when they beat Olympique Marseille, and if they can win here, then that would get Arsenal off to the perfect start. In winning Ligue 1, Montpellier completed a remarkable fairy tale. Just five years before their title win, they were trying to get promoted from Ligue 2 under the management of Rolland Courbis. After finishing second in Ligue 2 in 2007, they did indeed achieve their promotion but Courbis was replaced by René Girard thanks to various different reasons. Before the start of Ligue 1 last season, everyone expected PSG to sweep the league. PSG, backed by Qatari investors splashed the money in the transfer window and made their statement of intent. But they did not envisage little old Montpellier crashing the party, who under the watch of Girard, built a team who would play as a team compared to the individuals of PSG. In defence, Montpellier had the rock that was Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa who had an outstanding season and he was very unlucky to not get into the France squad for Euro 2012. He is a player that has attracted the interest of big European clubs like AC Milan and Arsenal. Younès Belhanda was the stand out player for Montpellier and the attacking midfielder was the man that was running show from midfield last season and providing the bullets for their forwards. One of the guys who converted those chances was Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud. Before coming to Arsenal, the Frenchmen made his name at Montpellier. He bagged 24 goals for them in all competitions and was the top scorer in Ligue 1. Arsene Wenger took notice and paid £13 Million for his services. Without Giroud, Montpellier have struggled for goals and have clearly not replaced him. Rémy Cabella has arguably been the stand out player for the French champions so far this season. An attacking midfielder that has an eye for goal and has already scored three goals in five game from midfield. Cabella and Belhanda have the talent to cause Arsenal problems but considering the contrasting form between the two teams, surely the Gunners will fancy their chances? Arsenal go into every Champions League campaign dreaming of winning the one trophy that they so badly want and in doing so they would achieve something that no Arsenal side has ever achieved. In 2006, they came close when they were 15 minutes away from getting their hands on their holy grail against Barcelona in Paris. Ever since then, the Gunners have only managed to reach one semi-final and that is as far as they have got in those six years. Last year, their run in the Champions League was brought to an end by AC Milan who thumped Arsenal 4-0 in the San Siro. Despite a brave response at the Emirates, the Gunners could not overturn that massive deficit. Not many people give the Gunners much of a chance of winning the Champions League this season but after Chelsea’s remarkable win in last year’s Champions League, anything is possible if Arsenal can believe in themselves and if they can borrow lady luck from Chelsea. Abou Diaby missed the game against Southampton after picking up an injury in the international break, but according to Arsene Wenger, he should be ready for the game against Montpellier and his return will be a welcome one. Diaby showed his talents against Liverpool and he will be looking forward to once again playing in the Champions League after not playing a single game in the same competition last year because of injuries. Laurent Koscielny has yet to start a game this season and that is partly down to injuries but it has also been down to the excellent form of Thomas Vermalen and Per Mertesacker. So far this season, the Arsenal defence have let in just the one goal in four games. But with the games coming thick and fast, Koscielny could get his first start of the season and with competitions for places being as fierce as it is, he will hope that he can his mark if he finally gets his chance. Both Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski make their Champions League debut in an Arsenal shirt and after making some serious contributions in the league, Arsenal fans will hope for more of the same in Europe. For Olivier Giroud, this might be his Champions League if he gets on the pitch against Montpellier. And his debut in this competition might come against his former club so he could not have planned it better. But, Giroud has yet to score a goal for Arsenal this season and the pressure on him to do so will increase with every game. Giroud has got in goal scoring positions but his finishing has not been good enough. But all of that will be forgotten if he can find his scoring touch against the French Champions this Tuesday. Giroud will be in familiar surroundings, so he should feel more comfortable. If he can score and Arsenal can win, then that will be a perfect night for the Gunners. But Montpellier are the current champions of France for a reason, and they have the players to hurt Arsenal. It should be an intriguing game. Team News: Arsene Wenger: Three Key Match-ups: Souleymane Camara please log in to view this image Rémy Cabella please log in to view this image Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa please log in to view this image please log in to view this image First Round of Fixtures in Group B: Montpellier vs Arsenal Olympiakos vs Schalke 04 Managers Views: Arsene Wenger on Vito Mannone: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
My team: Shezny Jenkinson TV Kosh Santos Arteta Coquelan Gervino Walcott Cazorla Giroud Subs: Mannone, Mertesacker, Podolski, OXO, Ramsey, Diaby, Gibbs I'd rest Mertesacker over Vermaelen, he's our captain, plus I'd prefer to rest Podolski to have him fully fresh for the Mancity game, and as for Diaby, I know he's fit to play, but is it wise to play him on Tuesday, and then again on Sunday in a major match against City? So I'd prefer to not take that risk, we have to be cautious with him as his recent small injury scare proved, it's too soon to be able to play him 2 games a week. I'd also give Gibbs a rest as well, Santos deserves a match.
Interesting team 87 - with Theo, Gerv & Santos it's very set up to play on the counter, which wouldn't be such a bad idea as Monty are at home & will surely come at Arsenal? Playing Giroud will give a target man to start the counters, his hold up play is good enough to release runners as they pace beyond him. Changing half the defense could yield issues, but I'd go with it. I'd like to see that team start.
I would probably play Koscielney (with TV) because I dont think he'll get too many games in the league. He's also more suited to European Football. I would probably give Theo and Giroud starts also. -------------------Sczezney-------------------- Jenks------Koscielney------Vermaelen-----Gibbs ------------Arteta----------Diaby---------------- -------------------Carzorla---------------------- Walcott------------Giroud---------------Podolski Im looking forward to seeing Podolski run riot again.
probably be vermaelen playing with koscielny, seeing as he's captain. or wenger could be really optimistic and play djourou and koscielny. it wasn't too long ago that people called that the best CB partnership in the PL. maybe they could re-find that form. santos at LB for me, give him some game time, and gibbs has played long and hard every game; deserves a break.
The reason I am resting Vermaelen is because he played the full 90 minutes in both of Belgium's world cup qualifying games last weeks. I think we can afford to rest him in this game as we have very good back up.
Montpellier 1 - 3 Arsenal - Giroud x 2 Walcott 1 DAMN wrong thread. Anyway looking forward to the game expecting a win even away seeing as Montpellier are new to the CL so will have nerves on top of which they lost there best player to us.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...earch.html?s=&authornamef=Sportsmail+Reporter I think it's fair to say Montpellier are not in confident mood ahead of our visit.
Just remembered that Wenger is banned from the touchline for our opening three games in CL. So, Steve Bould will be in charge, then.
Arsenal squad to face Montpellier: Vito Mannone James Shea Carl Jenkinson Kieran Gibbs Thomas Vermaelen Per Mertesacker Laurent Koscielny Abou Diaby Mikel Arteta Santi Cazorla Francis Coquelin Aaron Ramsey Theo Walcott Andre Santos Olivier Giroud Gervinho Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Lukas Podolski http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-name-18-man-squad-for-monpellier-game Diaby is in, but there is some talk about not risking him because of the City game.
