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Match Preview
Arsenal need just a point against Girona to guarantee themselves a place in the Champions League last 16 in their final match of the league phase.
The Gunners have won five of their seven games so far, losing only to Inter Milan as they sit third in the standings with a three-point buffer ahead of ninth-placed Aston Villa.
Mikel Arteta’s men come into the game in Catalona off the back of a 1-0 win over Wolves, which saw them overcome Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial red card, which has since been overturned.
With their place in the next round all but sealed and Manchester City to come in the Premier League, we may see Artets shuffle his pack slightly as they prepare to face a side already eliminated with just one win the competition this term.
All in the details.
Head Inside Training ahead of our final Champions League group stage encounter 📺 pic.twitter.com/LLXE0jyCVc
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 28, 2025
Team news
Arsenal are still without injured quartet Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu for the game at Girona.
They could also be without midfield duo Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino after missing Saturday’s win at Molineux.
Captain Odegaard missed out with illness, while Merino picked up a knock ahead of the clash, so both may not be risked for this clash.
Arteta may also opt to rest Riccardo Califiori after he only recently returned from injury, with key defender William Saliba also expected to have a breather.
The likes of Jakub Kiwior, Ethan Nwaneri, Jorginho and Raheem Sterling are all expected to be handed a chance to impress on Wednesday night.
Expected line-ups
Girona: Gazzaniga, Frances, Lopez, Martinez, Juanpe, Herrera, Romeu, Porto, Van de Beek, Tsigankov, Ruiz
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Gabriel, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Partey, Sterling, Havertz, Trossard
The stats
- Girona have lost the last 4 matches in a row in the Champions League while scoring less than 0.5 goals
- Girona have lost the last 3 matches in a row in the Champions League and the sum of goals was under 1.5
- Girona have lost the last 4 matches in a row in the Champions League while scoring less than 1.5 goals
- In the last 7 Girona matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In the last 3 Girona matches in the Champions League, the sum of goals was under 1.5
- Arsenal have won the last 3 matches in a row in the Champions League while scoring more than 2.5 goals
- In 4 of the last 5 Arsenal away matches in the Champions League, the sum of goals was under 1.5
- In 7 of the last 8 Arsenal matches in the Champions League, the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In 7 of the last 8 Arsenal away matches in the Champions League, the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In the last 4 Arsenal matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
How to watch PSV v Liverpool on TV & stream
All 18 Champions League matches are live on TNT Sports and Discovery + in the UK. Viewers can stream via the Discovery + app.
Prediction
There is perhaps less riding on this game compared to the action elsewhere in the Champions League, but Arteta will still expect a professional job in Spain.
Girona have struggled to reach their previous heights in LaLiga this season and their Champions League campaign has been a big disappointment, with only a win over Slovan Bratislava to show for their efforts.
That said, the Catalan side did run Liverpool close in their last home game in the competition in a 1-0 defeat on Matchday 6 before losing at AC Milan by the same scoreline, so it will be no easy ride for the Gunners.
Given Arsenal remain from their free-flowing best in attack, another narrow victory looks likely.
Girona 0-1 Arsenal
