Arsenal Football Club have began their Champions League journey with a loss to German powerhouse, Borussia Dortmund.
Arsenal Football Club have began their Champions League journey with a loss to German powerhouse, Borussia Dortmund but the North London team will be looking to add points in the tally when they take on Turkish opponents, Galatasaray in the Group D clash at the Emirates.
Arsenal was lucky to lose only 2-0 in Dortmund after being comprehensively outplayed by the Bundesliga outfit and already look strong favourites to top the group.
Even though the Gunners are playing at home, a win here would be a fitting reply to the critics who have doubted the Gunners’ capability of survival in the Champions League. But all is not merry in the Arsenal squad. Manager Arsene Wenger, who celebrates 18 years at the helm, has seen injuries mar the squad. Aaron Ramsey, Abou Diaby, Mikel Arteta, Olivier Giroud are host of players been ruled out.
Creative midfielder, Jack Wilshere was also a doubt after taking a knock against Tottenham on Sunday but has recovered while, right back Mathieu Debuchy remains to be out for three months. But despite the array of injuries in the team, Wenger has options available with Mesut Ozil, Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla to breathe down the opposition’s neck.
Galatasaray, who also began their Champions League journey with a dull draw against Anderlecht, have not been anywhere near as consistent. They have yet to beat an English opposition on away soil and have to rely on the likes of Wesley Sneijder and forward Burak Yilmaz to deliver the goods upfront. They also reached the first knockout round last season but have started the recent campaign in an ordinary fashion.
Arsenal will need to shrug off the pre-EPL result and start afresh against a valiant Turkish opponent in Galatasaray. The Gunners must fire in the goals if they are to progress further but the Turks can string in a surprise, if all goes well for them.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Flamini; Sanchez, Ozil, Cazorla, Welbeck.
Galatasaray: Muslera; Versel, Chedjou, Semih, Telles; Dzemaili, Melo, Selcuk; Sneijder; Burak, Pandev.
