Played
September 18, 2012 2:45 PM EDT
Stade de la Mosson — Montpellier
Referee: Carlos Velasco
Attendance: 27522
September 18, 2012 2:45 PM EDT
Stade de la Mosson — Montpellier
Referee: Carlos Velasco
Attendance: 27522
Champions League Preview: Montpellier - Arsenal
The hosts make their debut in Europe's premier competition and will be hoping to put their rotten league form behind them as they face Arsene Wenger's side who hit six on Saturday
By James McManus
Julian Finney
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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MONTPELLIER
Jourden Bocaly, Yanga-Mbiwa, Hilton, Bedimo Utaka, Cabella, Belhanda, Estrada, Ait-Fana Herrera |
ARSENAL
Szczesny Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs Arteta, Diaby, Cazorla Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud, Podolski |
Montpellier coach Rene Girard will welcome back both Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Remy Cabella after resting them at the weekend during its defeat to newly-promoted Stade Reims.
There are still concerns over Olivier Giroud's replacement in the side, though, with Emmanuel Herrera struggling for form which has contributed to the club's slow start to the season.
Arsene Wenger will have to monitor whether Theo Walcott has recovered fully from the effects of a virus and if Abou Diaby has got over his small muscle injury sustained on international duty with France.
Elsewhere, Jack Wilshere (ankle), Bacary Sagna (broken leg), Tomas Rosicky (Achilles), Lukasz Fabianski (shoulder) and Emmanuel Frimpong (ACL) are all long-term absences and are set to miss the trip.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Montpellier has lost three of their opening five league games this season.
- Olivier Giroud (pictured right) was the club's top goalscorer last season with 21 league goals as he spearheaded its attack on its way to the Ligue 1 title.
- This is the club's first ever game in the Champions League.
- Montpellier has scored 49 goals in UEFA competition in the past.
- Arsenal has now qualified for the Champions League group stages for 15 seasons in a row.
- This is the first time that the two clubs have ever met in a competitive fixture.
- Arsene Wenger's side has a good record against French clubs in European competition, having won five and drawn three in the past.
- However, the Gunners have won just two of their last 12 games away in Europe, losing eight of those fixtures.
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Montpellier HSC 0-2 Arsenal
- 22.91 %
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Montpellier HSC 0-3 Arsenal
- 16.63 %
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Montpellier HSC 1-3 Arsenal
- 12.12 %
| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | Nov 21, 2012 | Arsenal 2 - Montpellier HSC 0 |
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| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | Sep 18, 2012 | Montpellier HSC 1 - Arsenal 2 |
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Montpellier HSC
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| May 26, 2013 | Toulouse FC 2 - Montpellier HSC 0 | FRA1 |
| May 18, 2013 | Montpellier HSC 0 - Lille 0 | FRA1 |
| May 11, 2013 | SC Bastia 3 - Montpellier HSC 1 | FRA1 |
| May 4, 2013 | Montpellier HSC 2 - Stade Brestois 29 1 | FRA1 |
| Apr 27, 2013 | AC Ajaccio 2 - Montpellier HSC 1 | FRA1 |
Arsenal
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| May 19, 2013 | Newcastle 0 - Arsenal 1 | EPL |
| May 14, 2013 | Arsenal 4 - Wigan Athletic 1 | EPL |
| May 4, 2013 | QPR 0 - Arsenal 1 | EPL |
| Apr 28, 2013 | Arsenal 1 - Manchester United 1 | EPL |
| Apr 20, 2013 | Fulham 0 - Arsenal 1 | EPL |
| 16 | Geoffrey Jourdren | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Garry Bocaly | Defender |
| 5 | H. Bedimo | Defender |
| 5 | Vitorino Hilton da Silva | Defender |
| 3 | Mapou Yangambiwa | Defender |
| 23 | Jamel Saihi | Midfielder |
| 13 | Marco Estrada Quinteros | Midfielder |
| 20 | Rémy Cabella | Midfielder |
| 10 | Younes Belhanda | Midfielder |
| 26 | Anthony Mounier | Striker |
| - | Souleymane Camara | Striker |
| 1 | Laurent Pionnier | Goalkeeper |
| 22 | Benjamin Stambouli | Midfielder |
| 27 | Cyril Jeunechamp | Midfielder |
| 3 | Daniel Congré | Defender |
| 6 | Joris Marveaux | Midfielder |
| 11 | Emanuel Herrera | Striker |
| 18 | Karim Ait Fana | Striker |
| 24 | Vito Mannone | Goalkeeper |
| 25 | Carl Jenkinson | Defender |
| 28 | Kieran Gibbs | Defender |
| 4 | Per Mertesacker | Defender |
| 5 | Thomas Vermaelen | Defender |
| 2 | A. Diaby | Midfielder |
| 8 | Mikel Arteta | Midfielder |
| 19 | Santi Cazorla | Midfielder |
| 9 | Lukas Podolski | Striker |
| 27 | Gervinho | Striker |
| 12 | Olivier Giroud | Striker |
| 55 | James Shea | Goalkeeper |
| 27 | Andre Santos | Defender |
| 6 | Laurent Koscielny | Defender |
| 16 | Aaron Ramsey | Midfielder |
| 35 | Francis Coquelin | Midfielder |
| 15 | Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | Striker |
| 14 | Theo Walcott | Striker |
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid |
12 | 0 |
|
Robert Lewandowski Striker Borussia Dortmund |
10 | 1 |
|
Thomas Müller Striker FC Bayern München |
8 | 1 |
|
Lionel Messi Striker Barcelona |
8 | 0 |
|
Burak Yılmaz Striker Galatasaray |
8 | 0 |
