Arsenal kick-off their Champions League campaign with a trip to face Dinamo Zagreb.
They’re a team Arsene Wenger knows well. He scouted them regularly when he was interested in signing Croatian international Eduardo da Silva. As he told Arsenal.com:
Zagreb had two players in their squad at that time - one was called [Luka] Modric and the other Eduardo. The two have had great careers.
The regret we had for Eduardo is of course the bad injury he got, but he was a great player. We have fond memories of him and he still loves our club.
Many times when I’ve seen him, he’s always spoken highly of our club. I think Zagreb at the time were a very strong team and they are back now to the level where they were at the time.
Zagreb do seem to be in a strong position. They have returned to the Champions League after two years away and completed a domestic double in 2014/15.
Arsenal can not afford any complacency at the Stadion Maksimir. With a tricky group including Bayern Munich, Wenger will know the Gunners must do everything to secure maximum points against the lower-seeded teams.
Date: Wednesday, September 16
Time: 7.45 p.m. BST/2.45 p.m. ET
Location: Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
Television coverage: BT Sport Europe / BT Sport Europe HD (U.K.), FOX Sports 2 (U.S.)
Streaming: BT Sport App (U.K.), FOX Soccer 2Go (U.S.)
Form
Dinamo Zagreb
W (1-2) vs. Skenderbeu Korce
D (1-1) vs. Istra 1961
W (4-1) vs. Skenderbeu Korce
W (3-0) vs. Slaven Koprivnica
W (0-4) vs. Lokomotiva Zagreb
Arsenal
L (0-2) vs. West Ham
W (1-2) vs. Crystal Palace
D (0-0) vs. Liverpool
W (0-1) vs. Newcastle
W (2-0) vs. Stoke
This Dinamo side has already battled through three rounds of qualifiers to reach the group stage, most recently dispatching Albanian side Skenderbeu Korce 6-2 on aggregate.
They may not have played in Europe’s elite competition for a little while, but have been on a tremendous run domestically. Zagreb are currently unbeaten in 41 games in all competitions—but are yet to win a group stage game in 15 attempts.
Wenger will hope Arsenal can continue their excellent domestic away form into Europe. The Gunners have won each of their two away fixtures in 2015/16 so far, triumphing at Crystal Palace and Newcastle.
The Managers
Zagreb manager Zoran Mamic has no doubt as to Arsenal’s ability. He told Ben Nagle of the Daily Mail:
I have watched Arsenal in many games. I went to see them against Stoke this weekend and I got the impression they were playing in second or third gear, and should have won 10-0!
It is frightening and fascinating how they play. I believe we will be better than Stoke. Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil are key Arsenal players, but the team is so strong that danger comes from everywhere.
He may believe his side will fare better than Mark Hughes’ Stoke, but Mamic will know that any sort of positive result against Arsenal would be a major achievement.
Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, has emphasised the importance of his players’ focus. He told David Hytner of The Guardian:
To beat them we have to play at our best, without speculating on any weak link in a team that has not lost a game for 11 months. You are quickly out in the Champions League if you do not start well. It is a vital game and it’s important we focus on that.
Arsenal must not allow the sight of Chelsea on the horizon to distract them from this important game.
Team News
Dinamo Zagreb
A player called Eduardo is likely to play for Zagreb, but it will be the Portuguese goalkeeper rather than the Brazilian-born striker.
Mamic will likely use his customary 4-3-3 formation, in the hope that he can use overlapping full-backs to create two-on-one situations on the flanks.
Predicted Dinamo Zagreb XI (4-3-3): Eduardo; Ivo Pinto, Jeremy Taravel, Leonardo Sigali, Josip Pivaric; Marko Rog, Domagoj Antolic, Paulo Machado; Marko Pjaca, Angelo Henriquez, Junior Fernandes
Arsenal
The big injury news coming out of Arsenal yesterday focused on a player who was never likely to be available for this game. Jack Wilshere has been forced to undergo surgery on his fibula and will miss the next three months of action. He joins fellow England international Danny Welbeck as a long-term absentee for the Gunners.
Per Mertesacker is still absent after illness and a car accident, so Gabriel Paulista is likely to continue alongside Laurent Koscielny.
Wenger has admitted he may rotate his squad in this fixture, telling Arsenal.com:
It is quite easy to change two or three players, [more] than it was in years before because they are all at a very good level.
I know the same team cannot play every single game over the next three weeks. I try to keep the balance right and give a little breather to players who need it.
The Arsenal boss has made the decision to rest Hector Bellerin and Aaron Ramsey for this fixture. Their places are likely to go to Mathieu Debuchy and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain respectively, with club captain Mikel Arteta and France international Olivier Giroud also pushing for a potential recall.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech; Mathieu Debuchy, Gabriel Paulista, Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs; Francis Coquelin, Mikel Arteta; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez; Olivier Giroud
Players to Watch
Dinamo Zagreb: Angelo Henriquez
Arsenal may have a Chilean striking sensation in Alexis Sanchez, but Dinamo have one of their own in Angelo Henriquez. Formerly at Manchester United, he made his loan deal in Croatia permanent this summer after finishing 2014/15 with 29 goals in 37 appearances.
Having failed to make a significant impact during his spell in English football, Henriquez will be particularly keen to shine against the Gunners. His tussle with fellow South American Gabriel will be intriguing to watch.
Arsenal: Mathieu Debuchy
French full-back Mathieu Debuchy has been unhappy with the lack of opportunities afforded to him at Arsenal in recent months. Speaking to L’Equipe (h/t The Guardian), Debuchy said:
It is difficult. Even if I had not played a lot last season, in my head I would return to start after my recovery. But, at the Community Shield against Chelsea, Wenger chose him, Bellerín.
It was a surprise and a disappointment. Let’s say it [leaving] crossed my mind. But I want to be at Arsenal and to take my place.
With Bellerin left at home for this encounter, Debuchy has a rare opportunity to stake his claim for a regular place. He cannot let it slip: If he fails to perform in this Champions League tie, it will be difficult for him to dispute Wenger’s hierarchy.
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.
via http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2566388-dinamo-zagreb-vs-arsenal-team-news-predicted-lineups-live-stream-tv-info
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