Arsenal’s amazing change in form has given us Gooners renewed hope for this season, and we can have high hopes of retaining our FA Cup crown and hopefully going a long way in the Champions League this time around.
But our first obstacle is to get past Monaco, who were considered one of the easiest draws in the competition at the time, but, like Arsenal, they have improved rapidly recently, and are currently on an unbeaten run of 14 games in row in which they have only conceded ONE goal in regulation time (in a 1-1 draw away at Ligue 1 leaders Lyon in the middle of December). The Ligue 1 side has four more games to play before coming to the Emirates on the 25th Feb so we can only hope their consistency takes a knock before then.
But Arsenal will definitely be stronger than they were in the Group matches, with our recoveries from injury and the addition of three players to our squad for the knockout rounds. First of all we have Olivier Giroud, who was injured for most of the Group games, then Francis Coquelin who has been a godsend since coming back from Charlton, and of course our new centre-back Gabriel Paulista.
So, barring any new injuries, Arsenal are looking strong enough to compete with Monaco, but don’t expect it to be a pushover….
Full Champions League Squad
A List
1. Wojciech Szczesny, 2. Mathieu Debuchy, 3. Kieran Gibbs, 4. Per Mertesacker, 5. Gabriel, 6. Laurent Koscielny, 7. Tomas Rosicky, 8. Mikel Arteta, 10. Jack Wilshere, 11. Mesut Ozil, 12. Olivier Giroud, 13. David Ospina, 14. Theo Walcott, 16. Aaron Ramsey, 17. Alexis Sanchez, 18. Nacho Monreal, 19. Santi Cazorla, 20. Mathieu Flamini, 21. Calum Chambers, 23. Danny Welbeck, 24. Abou Diaby, 26. Emiliano Martinez, 34. Francis Coquelin, 35. Gedion Zelalem.
B List
15. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 27. Serge Gnabry, 38. Chuba Akpom, 39. Hector Bellerin, 42. Isaac Hayden, 43. Ryan Huddart, 44. Deyan Iliev, 45. Alex Iwobi, 47. Glen Kamara, 52. Tafari Moore, 54. Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill, 64. George Dobson, 70. Ainsley Maitland-Niles, 73. Stefan O’Connor.
Well of course we have to be at our best. That goes without saying. Monaco is no Madrid or Munich but still a decent side. But we have beaten City away, beaten Villa 5-0 without Sanchez. I’m optimistic that we will defeat Monaco over two legs.
However, At the moment we should concentrate on Spurs. Take one match at a time.
We are on a 5 game winning streak. Lets continue it for as long as possible. The only way to do that is to concentrate on the upcoming game and try to win it. If our players look far ahead it will be counterproductive.
Before we play Monaco we play Spuds away, Leicester @ home, Middlesborough @ home (FA Cup) and Crystal Palace away (I think) so I would love to go into Monaco with a 9 game winning streak (this is not impossible) but our players need to focus on the game ahead to achieve this .
That’s what I believe anyway.
I really missed UCL. Quarters, am really confident now. #COYG let’s start by beating spuds tomorrow.
Happy 20th Birthday Jon Toral. The next Young Gun to step up…
If we score over 3-4 goals over the two legs we should win. Monaco offensively is borrrrinnngggg… they barely put 1 goal past lower level Ligue 1 clubs.
OT: Wenger gets mad stick for buying youngsters at times but there are a few I think he should really consider this summer.
Paulo Dybala (ST)
Jose Gaya (LB)
Aymeric Laporte (CB)
Nabil Fekir (LW)
Just my thought…
Nice list. I’d be happy with that but would also want a Top DM
I want a top striker too. How good is Dyabala? I’m not too familiar with him.
Watched Palermo a few times where he featured and I think he’s Arsenal material…
OT: Tomorrow, don’t want to get pissing drunk before the game. Really want to concentrate on the finer aspects of the game, especially Ozil’s defence splitting passes. Better to down couple of pints at half time. And then after the game get pissing drunk with joy if we win or get drunk with sorrow if we lose or get normally drunk if the game ends in a draw! That is my schedule for Tomorrow..
I hope Ozil is playing better defensively than he did before he got injured. I didn’t watch the last two matches, but will watch Spurs game. I know he is bigger from the weight room which helps but he needs to work hard on the pitch also.
Attack Ozil has played well.
Fred – I think Ozil will benefit from the Santi/Rambo/Coq combo behind him, a settled and improved back 4 behind them and if all else fails we have The Wall in goal. We now have a good balance and a more solid platform, and I think Ozil will have more licence to strut his stuff and we will fret slightly less about his tackling prowess.
Lets be up for this one gunners! Focus is the main key towards a gunners victory over monaco! Coyg!
Its good to be excited =), haven’t been excited about CL for years. Last time I felt any jitters was during the Arsenal vs Milan game at the Emirates.