Arsenal will look to gain qualification to the knock out stages when they face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League group stage at the Emirates stadium on Wednesday night.
The Gunners only need a point against the German club, who have already booked their place with victory on match day four, to reach the last 16 for the 15th season in a row. The North London club were in contention to top the group until they threw away a 3 goal lead against Anderlecht in the previous match day.
They are currently struggling and haven’t registered a win in the last 3 matches in all competitions. The game isn’t of much prominence for Dortmund who just need one point in the last 2 games to top the group, however a win is must for Arsenal not just to qualify for the next stage but to finally kick start their season as it will be or never for them.
Here is the team news and predicted line-up for Arsenal
TEAM NEWS
We have got some good news to start with as Laurent Koscielny has returned to full training and even had a training session with the rest of the first team on Tuesday. Wenger has confirmed the Frenchman is in the squad for today’s game and will likely start the game as a half-fit Koscielny is any time better than Monreal playing as center back.
Wilshere suffered an ankle injury during the game against United and will reportedly be out of action for about three months meaning Aaron Ramsey will partner Arteta at the center of the midfield.
Giroud will miss the game as we failed to register his name in the 25-man squad list for the group stages of the competition. Wenger was supposed to submit the squad list by August 31 and the French striker who suffered an injury on August 23, was left out of the squad after doctors diagnosed that the injury would keep him out until 2015.
Welbeck missed yesterday’s training with a hamstring trouble but is expected to start alongside Sanchez to lead the Gunners attack. Szczesny is out with injury and Martinez will start under the sticks once again having started in goal for the game against Anderlecht.
Walcott is still out with a minor groin problem, so Oxlade-Chamberlain and Cazorla are expected to start on the wings. Mathieu Debuchy, David Ospina and Mesut Ozil are all still out.
PREDICTED LINE-UP
http://www.footyformation.com/team/view/slug/jBi
Will Arsenal get back to winning ways against Dortmund?
