It is Matchday 4 of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League group stage and Arsenal have travelled to Bulgaria to face hosts PFC Ludogorets Razgrad. The Gunners are top of the group on goal difference and a win would put them through to the knock out stage of the Champions League.
Hosts, Ludogorets, need to win the game to have any hope of qualifying from the group or boost their chances of qualifying for the Europa Cup by finishing 3rd ahead of Basel who are currently bottom of the table with same number of points but with an inferior goal difference. The Bulgarians will have a relatively weaker Arsenal side to face with Wenger confirming the omission of some key plays for the game
Who did not travel is Monreal, Cazorla and Bellerin, Walcott – both are more or less injuries. Some of them being very close, like Walcott, Bellerin had a little incident in the last minute of training so they are not here. For us it’s a big game because as you said, if we win we can qualify. But if we lose, you can as well be in a difficult situation. So we know the importance of the game is massive.
It means Jenkinson could start on the right side of the defense and Chamberlain and Gibbs will continue from where he stopped at the Stadium of Light. Xhaka is available for the middle pack and will hope Wenger chooses him over El Neny for the game. Upfront, Giroud is back but will Wenger bench Sanchez? Remember we have the North London Derby on Sunday – 5 days away.
The Gunners have the momentum and thus I can hum about singing…
“Liberian Bulgarian Girl Nighttttt!!!!…… yeaaaaa!!!!”
Nothing like the Champions League. No better way to start the new month. Happy New Month.
SoccerGunz 