Monaco vs Arsenal Preview: Recent Form, Team News & Prediction

Arsenal have a mammoth task tonight if they’re to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, needing to overcome a 3-1 deficit from the Emirates three weeks ago.

The Gunners were 3-0 winners over West Ham at the weekend but face a much sterner defence in Monaco who are unbeaten in their last 16 games at Stade Louis II in all competitions, conceding only four goals during this run.

Monaco have only conceded two goals in their seven Champions League matches this season, while Arsenal will need to score at least three in 90 minutes if they’re to progress.

If you are betting on a tight match like this, an advantage to using multiple sportsbooks is that you can shop around and get the best betting odds for the game and any particular outcome. You would expect Arsenal to be far more motivated and playing at a higher tempo than they did at the Emirates,

Keep in mind though, that form and odds can not easily explain how Arsenal will get a 3-goal win. Seeing them try will make for a great spectacle though.

Form

Arsenal WWWWL

Domestically Arsenal have won seven in a row but only their most recent scoreline would be enough to see them through this tie. They have kept three clean sheets during this run domestically but only scored three goals in one of these games.

Monaco WWLDW

Defensively the French side are playing excellently, although they didn’t look overly convincing versus Arsenal in the first leg. The draw in their latest run was versus Paris Saint-Germain whilst the defeat came to the same side, in the French Cup. Leonardo Jardim’s side haven’t conceded as many as three goals since their 4-1 loss at Bordeaux in the second game of the season.

Team News

Monaco welcome back Jérémy Toulalan after the experienced French midfielder missed the first leg through injury. Ricardo Carvalho is also fit this time. The French Ligue 1 side are still without Andrea Raggi, Tiemoué Bakayoko and Lacina Traoré.

Arsène Wenger is still missing defenders Mathieu Debuchy and Gabriel Paulista. Midfielders Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mikel Arteta and Abou Diaby are also absent. Tomáš Rosický is a doubt.

Key Matchup

Olivier Giroud vs Aymen Abdennour
Aside from his poor showing in the first meeting, Arsenal’s sole striker has been in form of late, scoring a goal in each of his past four Premier League appearances. Olivier Giroud saw two golden opportunities in the first leg and with the positions he’s been getting in of late we’d expect him to see similar in Monaco. With playmakers Alexis Sánchez, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Özil around you can certainly expect Giroud to get opportunities.

Prediction

Monaco 1-2 Arsenal
We’re confident Arsenal can get a result in Monaco but we think they will narrowly go out. Their defence let them down in the first leg and we don’t expect them to keep a clean sheet in this one. Going forward, they created chances in the first leg and we expect to see them do the same again. An early goal would be great if they’re to progress but we think they will narrowly fall short.