Arsenal vs Monaco: The Final Test Dose
Arsenal will have their last practice match against Monaco before officially entering the new season, with the upcoming showdown against Man City in the Community Shield.
Team News:
Arsenal:
Injuries have caused concerns for Arsenal as the new season approaches. Rice (thigh), Folarin Balogun (foot), and Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) were sidelined in the victory against Barcelona. Previously, Reiss Nelson (toe) and Albert Sambi Lokonga (thigh) were also unavailable.
There’s news that Rice has recovered and could make a return tonight. Balogun and Zinchenko are expected to take more time to recover.
Monaco:
Key forward from Ligue 1, Breel Embolo, will miss the clash with Arsenal due to a knee injury.
Recent Form:
Arsenal have won 2, drawn 2, and lost 1 in their last 5 friendly matches. Meanwhile, Monaco has won 3, drawn 1, and lost 2 in their last 6 outings.
Head-to-Head Record:
Monaco previously eliminated Arsenal in the round of 16 of the 2014/15 Champions League season, with an aggregate score of 3-3 (Monaco advanced on away goals). This was when Monaco had Radamel Falcao on their team.
Also in that season, Monaco was invited by Arsenal to the Emirates Cup, finishing below Arsenal.
Expected Lineups:
Arsenal: Ramsdale; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Odegaard, Partey, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Trossard
Monaco: Kohn; Matsima, Maripan, Okou; Vanderson, Camara, Fofana, Henrique; Golovin, Volland; Ben Yedder
Prediction:
Monaco has been in poor form in the recent final stretch. They have won only one of their last seven matches and lost all three of their most recent ones. This has led to frustration within the management, resulting in the appointment of coach Adolf Hutter to replace Philippe Clement.
In the recent match against Genoa, Axel Disasi wore the captain’s armband for Monaco. However, this central defender is rumored to be on the verge of moving to Chelsea for £38.5 million, which might mean this is his last game for Les Monegasques. This also poses a dilemma for Coach Hutter.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will conclude their pre-season phase against a relatively matched opponent, Monaco. With the advantage of playing at home, many predict that the Gunners will easily secure a victory.
Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, and Jurrien Timber, Arsenal’s three expensive newcomers, have quickly integrated into the team after matches in the United States. They only suffered one defeat against Man Utd, with a score of 0-2. However, immediately after, Arsenal came back strong to defeat Barcelona 5-3, with Leandro Trossard scoring a brace.
After the match, Barcelona’s coach, Xavi, complained about Arsenal’s tackling. However, this only shows that Arsenal is taking things seriously even in friendly matches.
Tonight, it’s likely that Coach Mikel Arteta will continue to use Trossard as a virtual forward following his impressive performances in the US. Havertz has also become accustomed to the number 8 position at the new club. Let’s wait and see how many goals they will score against Monaco.
Score Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Monaco (according to Sportmole)
