Arsenal vs. Monaco: Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Live Stream & TV Info

Arsenal resume their Champions League campaign against Ligue 1 side Monaco at the Emirates Stadium. The two-legged tie will be the first competitive meetings in the history of the two clubs.

On paper, it's a good draw for the Gunners. Monaco were arguably the weakest group-winner, even if they did concede just one goal in the competition's first stage.

It will certainly be a strange occasion for Arsene Wenger, who will come up against the club where he made his name as a manager. However, this is no time for sentiment: Monaco are strong at the Stade Louis II, so Arsenal must do all they can to take advantage of being on their own turf in the first leg.

Date: Wednesday, February 25

Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT/ 2:45 p.m. ET

Venue: Emirates Stadium, London

TV Info: Sky Sports 5 (U.K.), Fox Sports 1 (U.S.)

Live Stream:  SkyGo (U.K.), FOX Soccer 2Go (U.S.)

Form Guide (last five results of both teams)

Arsenal

W (1-2) vs. Crystal Palace

W (2-0) vs. Middlesbrough

W (2-1) vs. Leicester City

L (2-1) vs. Tottenham Hotspur

W (5-0) vs. Aston Villa

 

Monaco

W (1-0) vs. Nice

W (3-1) vs. Stade Rennais

L (1-0) vs. En Avant Guingamp

D (0-0) vs. SC Bastia

D (0-0) vs. Lyon

 

Both Arsenal and Monaco have recovered from difficult domestic starts to climb their respective leagues in the second half of the season. Arsenal's resurgence has been based on getting injured players back, while Monaco have been able to rely on an impressively mean defence.

However, they do struggle to score, with just 26 in their 25 Ligue 1 games.

 

Team News

Arsenal are able to reintroduce Hector Bellerin in to the squad after their game at Crystal Palace, but Jack Wilshere is likely to be left out as a precaution. The likes of Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta and Abou Diaby will all remain sidelined.

Wenger faces two major selection decisions at either end of the pitch: In goal, he must decide whether to play Wojciech Szczesny instead of David Ospina. In attack, he faces a choice between Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott. Welbeck offers more protection and cohesive team play, but Walcott is undoubtedly the superior goalscorer.

Monaco will be disappointed to be without their key defensive midfielder Jeremy Toulalan, as well as defensive duo Ricardo Carvalho and Andrea Raggi. There are also doubts over left-back Layvin Kurzawa and winger Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco. There will be a familiar face up top in former Tottenham and Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov.

 

Players to Watch

Mesut Ozil

With Monaco likely to sit back and look to hit Arsenal on the counter, the Gunners should be granted plenty of possession. It's Ozil's job to convert that dominance into goalscoring opportunities.

Fortunately, he has been in productive form of late, with three goals and two assists in his last five appearances.

Monaco's holding player, Geoffrey Kondogbia, will be charged with keeping an eye on Ozil's intelligent movement between midfield and attack.

 

Fabinho

The Brazilian full-back will not only be a key part of Monaco's attempts to keep Arsenal at bay. He'll also be expected to be a crucial component in their counter-attacks.

Fabinho loves to storm forward at every opportunity, providing the Ligue 1 outfit with a constant outlet on the right flank. Nacho Monreal will have to be particularly wary of his pace and driving runs.

 

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.