Arsenal vs. Dinamo Zagreb: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Arsenal have hit an injury crisis at the worst possible time. Having lost two further first-team players in their weekend defeat at West Brom, they now face a Champions League tie against Dinamo Zagreb knowing that anything other than a win could lead to their elimination from the competition.
The permutations are simple for the Gunners. They must beat Zagreb and hope Bayern Munich dispatch Olympiakos in the other match in Group F. However, with Zagreb currently on the same tally as Arsene Wenger’s men, they will have ambitions of their own to remain in Europe. Finishing in second place might prove a stretch, but if they can avoid finishing bottom of the group they could yet enjoy a Europa League run. There’s still plenty to play for.
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Arsenal will know they cannot afford any complacency in this encounter. Having already suffered a defeat in the reverse fixture, they’ll be desperate to secure a measure of revenge and keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage alive.
Date: Tuesday, November 24
Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET
Location: Emirates Stadium, London
Television coverage: BT Sport Showcase / BT Sport Europe / BT Sport Europe HD / BT Sport Ultra HD (U.K. only), Fox Sports 1 USA (U.S. only)
Streaming: BT Sport App (U.K. only), FOX Soccer 2Go (U.S. only)
Form
Arsenal
L (3-0) vs. Sheffield Wednesday
W (0-3) vs. Swansea
L (5-1) vs. Bayern Munich
D (1-1) vs. Tottenham
L (2-1) vs. West Brom
Dinamo Zagreb
W (1-3) vs. Mladost Zdralovi
L (1-0) vs. Split
L (2-1) vs. Olympiakos
W (1-0) vs. Istra 1961
W (1-2) vs. Slaven Koprivnica
Arsenal’s form has shown signs of slowing: The Gunners have now won just one of their last five games, shipping 11 goals in the process. That will be a concern for Wenger as the season approaches its crucial Christmas period.
As for Zagreb, they have not won in Europe since their stunning opening-round victory over Arsenal. What’s more, they’ve begun to stutter on the domestic front too, allowing Rijeka to take over the Croatian top spot.
The Managers
Arsene Wenger is clearly keen to put Arsenal’s recent bad spell into perspective. Per Arsenal.com, he sounded determined to put a positive spin on proceedings:
"In the last two games we have dropped points. We know as well that before that we won five games on the trot and you can go through a spell like that - it is how you respond to that and that is what makes your season.
That is why it is a good test for us. It is true that we need a positive result from Bayern,but that only has an impact if we win, so let’s focus on what we can do.
I believe that when everybody is back we have a squad to compete in both [the Premier League and Champions League]. If we go through now in the Champions League we can be very dangerous for everybody.
"
If they’re to stand any chance of troubling teams in the competition’s latter stages, the Gunners must first get past Zoran Mamic’s Zagreb team.
What’s clear is that Mamic will come with a plan. Speaking to Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail after Zagreb’s victory over Arsenal back in September, he was very open about his strategy:
"Arsenal is one of the best teams who ever played here and they did exactly what we agreed they would do. We thought it would be very important to close the middle, to stop the fast passes.
That's what we did and it's nothing new. We have already seen other teams who beat Arsenal use the same tactics. This is a good way to beat them.
Arsenal has top four top international players, and other top players compared to Dinamo, but they are not world class. We just concentrated in not letting them come to the ball. It was probably one our best games tactically.
"
It’s likely than Dinamo will look to employ similar tactics in this Emirates Stadium encounter.
Team News
Arsenal
The big news for the Gunners is that Francis Coquelin has been ruled out with a knee injury, per Arsenal.com. This leaves Arsene Wenger with a conundrum over how to replace the combative Frenchman.
Aaron Ramsey has returned from injury, so it’s possible Wenger could restore the Welshman to the centre of the park. However, that would necessitate the displacement of Santi Cazorla, whose playmaking from the deep-lying midfield role has become essential to Arsenal’s style. The most likely outcome is that Wenger will introduce Mathieu Flamini as a like-for-like replacement for Coquelin.
Other than that there is not much room for rotation, but it’s possible Wenger will afford Laurent Koscielny a rare rest in favour of Gabriel Paulista.
Predicted Arsenal X (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech; Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel Paulista, Nacho Monreal; Mathieu Flamini, Santi Cazorla; Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez; Olivier Giroud
Dinamo Zagreb
Mamic must cope without the banned Arijan Ademi and Josip Pivaric, while Domagoj Antolic and Gordon Schildenfeld are injured.
Zagreb are likely to try to pack the defence and frustrate Arsenal, with the attacking pair of Angelo Henriquez and Junior Fernandes entrusted with hitting the Gunners on the break wherever possible.
Predicted Dinamo Zagreb lineup (5-3-2): Eduardo; Armin Hodzic, Jeremy Taravel, Alexandru Matel, Ivo Pinto, Borna Sosa; Leonardo Sigali, Goncalo Santos, Paulo Machado; Junior Fernandes, Angelo Henriquez
Players to Watch
Arsenal: Mathieu Flamini
Flamini has a real opportunity to win himself a place in Arsenal’s first-choice XI. In the absence of both Coquelin and Mikel Arteta, there is no obvious alternative for the holding-midfield role.
Flamini won’t be short of motivation. This is the final year of his contract, and he needs to perform in order to either win a new deal or impress any potential suitors. A dominating performance against Zagreb would be a big step in the right direction for the feisty Frenchman.
Dinamo Zagreb: Junior Fernandes
Arsenal may be pinning their hopes on Alexis Sanchez to be the difference maker, but Zagreb have a Chilean star of their own in Junior Fernandes. The former Bayer Leverkusen man scored in the meeting between the two sides in Croatia, and he will be hoping to repeat the feat in London’s return fixture.
His pace and strength suggest he will be a menace to Arsenal throughout the night. Per Mertesacker and company will have to concentrate fully to prevent Fernandes making his presence felt.
James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.
