Arsenal and Monaco: Tactical Preview of Champions League Game

Arsenal will be seeking to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in five years. The club standing in their way? Sturdy, resilient Monaco of Ligue 1. It's a dream tie for the Gunners in all honesty, but that doesn't make it easy: Les Monegasques will provide a stern challenge over two legs.

Arsenal News

Abou Diaby, Mathieu Debuchy, Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta are out for this match as long-term injury issues, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is unlikely to be rushed back from his ailment. David Ospina has a slight back concern, per WhoScored.com, and may relinquish his spot to Wojciech Szczesny for this one.

Otherwise, the Gunners look relatively healthy and will be encouraged by their recent good form. Francis Coquelin will be set for his first UEFA Champions League appearance of the season in holding midfield, while Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck should play up ahead.

Gabriel Paulista should drop to the bench once more, and Calum Chambers' position at right-back is under serious threat from the returning Hector Bellerin. Kieran Gibbs/Nacho Monreal is always a tough call.

Monaco News

Jeremy Toulalan's suspension headlines Monaco's absentees, and Leonardo Jardim also looks set to be without Tiemoue Bakayoko, Ricardo Carvalho and Andrea Raggi due to injury.

Aymen Abdennour was red-carded this weekend in the win at Nice but will resume starter duties here, and Wallace will likely partner him in the centre of defence. Layvin Kurzawa is an injury worry at left-back but should make the game.

Toulalan's absence creates a hole in midfield, but Jardim has depth to call on in Geoffrey Kondogbia, Joao Moutinho and Bernardo Silva. Calling the wingers either side of Dimitar Berbatov is tough; it will depend on what game plan the boss has in mind.

Almamy Toure could play right-back to allow Fabinho into midfield.

Key Point 1: The Importance of Ozil

This won't be attack vs. defence, but Jardim will set up in such a way that Monaco largely play on the counter. Per WhoScored.com, ASM have conceded the joint-least goals in Ligue 1 this season (alongside Lyon) with just 19; Guingamp's 51st-minute strike against them on February 8 brought to a close a run of 842 minutes without conceding a goal.

They'll sit in, either in a 4-5-1 or in a 4-4-1-1 with a defensive-minded "No. 10" (Silva), soak up pressure and counter via the wings. Men behind the ball and defensive solidity is Monaco's Plan A, B and C.

That will ensure the pattern of play will be more like Arsenal's recent bouts with Middlesbrough and Leicester, not the games against Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. They'll be on the ball and asked the question: Can you break us down?

Ozil becomes the key player in this situation; Alexis' dribbling could be blunted by a lack of space, so Santi Cazorla upping the tempo of the passing and Ozil's pick-the-lock through-balls become key.

Some real quality and deception will be needed to get through Jardim's walls; Ozil will need to find a way.

Key Point 2: The Importance of Coquelin

Monaco will not surprise in how they attack. Berbatov will drop in from the No. 9 position, collect the ball and attempt to free his wide runners, utilising pace on the break and a temporary numerical advantage.

Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco is a monster in this situation from the left and if he's passed fit (he hasn't trained since the win over Nice), he'll give Arsenal's right-back an examination. On the right, Anthony Martial or Nabil Dirar will stretch the opposite flank.

It brings to the fore the importance of Coquelin and his role in the side. We saw him excelling in a proactive role against Leicester: Despite not seeing much meaningful possession in the first half as his side monopolised the ball, he was on red alert and cut out several potentially dangerous counter-attacks.

He stuck himself to Andrej Kramaric at times and blocked many of Esteban Cambiasso's passes out of the defensive phase; he's instinctive and bold in his moves. Berbatov will be the first option for Moutinho and Co. playing out, and Coquelin can nullify Monaco from an attacking perspective if he's alert enough to stop, block and trap.

Article Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2375288-arsenal-vs-monaco-tactical-preview-of-champions-league-game