Champions League : Arsenal - AS Monaco

Big match for everyone involved, but especially Arsene Wenger, who has taken charge of a record number of games at BOTH clubs. This will be the first time that he has faced a former club, which in 32 years as head coach is an amazing statistic, I do not know how he will feel tonight, he said it will be an emotional return for the second leg, but more nostalgia than fondness and he was not treated particularly well in his final year at the club, when, just a few weeks after blocking his "dream" move to Bayern Munich, the club sacked him ! Things like that are not soon forgotten and you get the impression that Wenger would never forget anything and with revenge a dish best served cold, I feel we might see Les Rouges et Blancs served up a large helping this evening. Get the job all but done this evening and he can go to Monaco, play the diplomat and enjoy the occasion, whilst mentally giving them the "finger".

Monaco are all about keeping things tight at the back and have conceded just two goals inside 90 minutes in 16 starts, which is an awesome record, but they have not been playing a team with the offensive weapons that the Gunners have and they arrive in North London without veteran central defender Ricardo Carvalho, right back Andrea Raggi , defensive midfielders Jeremy Toulalan and Tiemoue Bakayoko or forward Lacina Traore and with left back Layvin Kurzawa ( who was taken off injured on Friday) and left winger Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco having travelled , but subject to tests today. Twelve of the squad who have made the trip are aged 18-22, with five still teenagers and offering little to no experience at this level. Without Toulalan, ASM are far less watertight and have managed just two clean sheets in nine starts, when Raggi is absent, they have won just two from seven, only game both missed was a 2-1 home defeat to Lorient and these look big losses in areas that Cazorla, Ozil, Giroud can exploit and a mismatch in terms of pace in other parts of the pitch, if one of Kurzawa or Ferreira-Carrasco also misses out, it would also weaken them on the other flank and then I just cannot see any way for the visitors to avoid defeat, even if they line up, it will be extremely tough.

Wenger is a student of all leagues but especially the French and there is little which happens there that he doesn't get to see, he has been football consultant for a French television station for more than a decade and has a wonderful record in signing players and against teams from his homeland. Anyway, no surprises in prospect for him, he will know what to expect and the Gunners get to see it most home games at the Emirates, Monaco will sit back, look to frustrate and steal a goal on the break, the visitors have the lowest possession stats in the competition of (43.8%) and the hosts are going to see a lot of the ball this evening and Monaco in for a long 90 minutes, against top quality opposition.

Not very original, but I cannot see beyond the home win and so I will keep this simple......1.75 units Arsenal -1 ball 2.04 asian line/Sportmarket.
 

Good Luck.