Arsenal vs Monaco Preview, Line up and predicted score by KJ
We were all excited when we drew Monaco in the CL and we’ve improved our form drastically since that – meaning we are in the perfect situation to face one of France’s best teams and yet it will still be a difficult game.
Monaco are known as the “boring team” in Ligue 1. They have scored very few goals and opt for defending with their lives and scoring on the break. It is working for them and it can frustrate the best of teams but this tactic means that getting an early goal completely destroys their game plan. They aren’t used to chasing games and we could punish them massively if we are able to get that early goal.
We are fortunate the Mesut is in great form as he’ll be the key to this match. His forte is opening up teams with his phenomenal passing range and he’ll do that against Monaco as they sit back. I also think that our ability to counter attack is going to hurt the Ligue 1 side as they try and get something to take back to France with them.
Predicted Line up:
Ospina
Bellerin – Mertesacker – Koscielny – Monreal
Coquelin – Cazorla
Walcott – Özil – Alexis
Giroud
I expect Ospina to keep his place as he hasn’t done anything massively wrong but I’d like to see Szczesny back.
I expect Bellerin to start as he’ll add a lot of width in comparison to Chambers and that will be vital at stretching Monaco.
Walcott to start over Welbeck for me as he’ll occupy positions in between their centre back and full back which can damage them if the right pass comes in.
Alexis to play on the left which isn’t his best position but he is good enough to affect the game positively from most attacking positions.
I expect us to get an early goal and comfortably win 2 – 0. It’s paramount that we don’t concede.
Kash