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UEFA Champions League Preview: Arsenal v Marseille

SoccerNews in English Premier League 24 Nov 2013

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Arsenal can reach the UEFA Champions League’s knockout stage for the 11th year in a row when they host Marseille.

Arsene Wenger’s side – who have qualified for Europe’s premier club competition for the last 16 seasons – have enjoyed an impressive record in the competition in recent years, despite failing to win it.

And they will hope to seal their place in the last 16 on Tuesday, with victory set to continue their excellent start to the season.

The Emirates Stadium outfit top the Premier League by four points after winning nine of their first 12 league fixtures, while three wins from four Group F encounters sees them at the summit in Europe as well.

Key to Arsenal’s form has been the efforts of Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud, with the former having netted 11 goals in all competitions so far this season.

Ramsey’s contribution from midfield has been crucial for a side who are still short on firepower beyond Giroud.

The 27-year-old Frenchman netted both goals in the 2-0 Premier League win over Southampton on Saturday, taking his tally to 10 for the season, but the club’s fans will be hopeful of a new signing arriving in January to give him some support.

Winger Theo Walcott returned from an abdominal injury off the bench in the win against Southampton and is a welcome inclusion for a side still missing the likes of Lukas Podolski (hamstring), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and midfielder Abou Diaby (both knee).

Arsenal won the first meeting between these two sides in France in September, with goals from Walcott and Ramsey giving them a 2-1 success on the road.

They also met twice in the 2011-12 Champions League, and although the fixture in London ended goalless, Ramsey got a late winner in a 1-0 victory for Arsenal in France.

While Arsenal top the group with nine points, Marseille are rock-bottom and are yet to get off the mark after losing all four of their matches so far.

Qualification is now beyond them, but coach Elie Baup will be looking for his side to restore some pride.

A winless run of seven matches put serious pressure on Baup, but successive Ligue 1 triumphs over Sochaux and Ajaccio have now lifted Marseille to fourth in the table.

Youngster Florian Thauvin scored in Friday’s 3-1 win at Ajaccio, his seventh goal in six matches for club and country.

Thauvin also netted a hat-trick and provided two assists for France’s Under-21s in a 6-0 romp against Armenia earlier this month.

Marseille have won just once in their 11 Champions League visits to England, losing six, and they will be without forward Andre Ayew, who could miss the next two months with a knee injury, while Rod Fanni (muscle strain) is also sidelined.

Lucas Mendes could return from an ankle injury though, after he was an unused substitute at Ajaccio.

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  • Hector

    0 0

    Congradulations to arsenal de way dey display their stayle of football,hope they’ll keep lyk dat till the end of the season

  • Hector

    0 0

    Congradulations to arsenal de way dey display their stayle of football,hope they’ll keep lyk dat till the end of the season

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