Top in England but beaten in three of their last five UEFA Champions League home games, Arsenal FC know victory over eliminated Olympique de Marseille is crucial to their hopes of a 11th straight knockout appearance.
In a group where even 12 points may not guarantee progress, Arsenal sit on nine while Marseille are yet to get off the mark, though Arsène Wenger notes that means they have “nothing to lose”. Not so, counters Élie Baup, who stresses that his developing team do not want to end without a point though he is aware that a game at the home of the “best team” in Group F will not be easy.
• Arsenal are level with SSC Napoli and three points ahead of Borussia Dortmund. If they pick up more points than Dortmund do against Napoli, the Gunners are through. If Dortmund win, Arsenal cannot guarantee qualification even with victory. Marseille are out but can pip Dortmund, six points ahead, to third.
Arsenal
Arsène Wenger, manager
We’re starting to be consistent. It is always a must-win game and tomorrow’s game is again, against a very difficult opponent. We just want to keep going now.
We know what is at stake and we want to qualify and know that tomorrow is a very big game in that final stage of the qualifiers. We have an opportunity to do it at home – 12 points might not be enough, it’s true, but it might also be enough and it might be enough tomorrow – so let’s get the 12 points.
When we speak about losing three of the last five at home we are talking about losing to Bayern, who won the Champions League last year and who we beat at their home, and Dortmund, who we beat away as well. These kinds of games are very, very tight. But overall, if you look over a number of years we have been very strong at home.
Of course [Marseille] have nothing to lose and that always makes the French teams very dangerous. They have quality, Marseille, and they are in a better period because they won their last two games and that makes them a dangerous team to play against of course. The quality of our concentration and our focus will be vital.
Weekend result
Saturday: Arsenal 2-0 Southampton FC (Giroud 22 86pen)
Szczęsny; Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Arteta (Rosický 74), Ramsey; Cazorla (Walcott 70), Özil (Monreal 81), Wilshere; Giroud.
• Arsenal moved four points clear at the Premier League summit after Liverpool FC were held by Everton FC.
Team news
Theo Walcott, out since having surgery on his abdomen following matchday one, was a substitute on Saturday and Wenger is “not decided” on his selection. Abou Diaby (knee), Lukas Podolski (hamstring) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) are long-term absentees.
Marseille
Élie Baup, coach
We are a group that has a lot of experienced players, but also a lot of young players who are just discovering the Champions League. This experience will help their development. In terms of the table and the points then obviously things are not going particularly well, but it is up to everyone to put in a good performance.
We have always tried to play our game and be at the right level against teams that are better than us from the start. As soon as you heard the draw, of course, everybody put us as fourth in the group. Against Arsenal in the first game we performed well for an hour or so. But they were able to exploit the moment that we were not doing so well and that is what a top-quality side can do to you.
We do not want to end up with no points – we need to put in our best possible performances in the final two games of the group. In my mind [Arsenal] are a team that have both ability and are also very balanced. They can manage difficult spells in the game and when they are having a good spell they can be decisive.
The proof is already there in terms of the league – I think they are the best team in our group and there is no problem for them in the UEFA Champions League. They have very good attacking quality. They also have great technical players and a great spirit within the team.
Weekend result
Saturday: AC Ajaccio 1-3 Marseille (Perozo 31; Payet 27, Gignac 39, Thauvin 58)
Mandanda; Abdallah, Diawara, Nkoulou, Mendy; Romao, Cheyrou, Thauvin (Khalifa 86), Valbuena (Lemina 73), Payet; Gignac (J Ayew 79).
• OM scored three times in a match for the first time since the opening day of the Ligue 1 season to seal their first away win in five attempts.
Team news
André Ayew will miss the rest of the group stage after twisting a knee on international duty. Rod Fanni has not played since matchday three because of an adductor problem but Lucas Mendes, out with an ankle injury since 18 October, was an unused substitute on Friday.
Match fact
• It is the third successive season that Arsenal have faced French opponents in the UEFA Champions League. A year ago on matchday five they beat Montpellier Hérault SC 2-0 to register their first win in the competition at home to Ligue 1 sides.
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