Champions League Group H Match Preview: Arsenal vs. Partizan Belgrade
Arsenal are looking to take on Partizan in what has become a must-win match for the Gunners. Arsenal opened this year's Champions League round by picking up three wins from their first three matches. However, just when it looked
like Arsenal were as good as qualified for the knock-out stage, two losses following those three wins has now left Arsenal in a must-win situation if they are to move ahead in the Champions League.
Arsenal's center-back Laurent Koscielny has managed to recover at light speed from his head injury this past weekend (in the match against Fulham) and after being initially ruled out for a month, is now fit to participate in the
evening’s match. However, Johan Djourou has picked up a thigh injury and is to be rested for the match. Emmanuel Eboue is set to make his comeback to the team after recovering from his knee injury (he missed the match against Fulham). Captain, Cesc Fabregas
is still out with his hamstring injury and long-term injury victims Thomas Vermaelen and Abou Diaby are also still out.
Things are also looking a little bleak for Partizan as their star right-back Aleksandar Miljkovic is out after picking up a groin injury this past weekend and Ivan Stevanovic is also set to miss the game due to picking up a viral
illness.
Arsenal are also strongly rumoured to be using Robin Van Persie from the very first minute in the match. The Dutch striker made his latest appearance for the Gunners this past weekend against Fulham and helped change the game almost
immediately after coming on by helping set up Samir Nasri to score the winning goal in the closely contested game.
Arsene Wenger has gone ahead and stated that Arsenal will be looking to give the fans a performance to remember and all the experts are siding with Wenger on this, as over the last couple of weeks Arsenal have managed to pick up
their form and have been highly impressive.
Having qualified for the knock-out stages for the last eleven seasons in a row, it is safe to say that Arsenal will be looking to make it twelve seasons in a row tonight. That is, of course, unless Partizan pull off the impossible.
Arsenal have already managed to beat Partizan by three goals to one earlier this season in the Champions League and are strong favourites to do the same tonight.
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