Arsenal currently sit on the top of the table in Group H in the UEFA Champions League, along with Shakhtar Donetsk as both teams have obtained nine points out of 4 matches.
The North Londoners will need only a draw to ensure their progression to the last 16, as they have a 3-point lead over their Portuguese rivals for Tuesday. Gunners’ fans will be expecting to see their team settle for no less than a win when travelling to
Portugal to face manager Domingos Pacienca’s side.
In a match poll conducted by http://www.skysports.com/, a vast majority of voters (87.4 per cent) expected Arsenal to triumph, 7.7 per cent claimed Braga would win and 4.9 per cent supposed a draw would take place. Braga previously
had both, a home and an away win against bottom-of-the-table team, Partizan Belgrade.
After an enthralling game over the weekend, Arsenal succumbed to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of their North London rivals Tottenham after going two goals up at half-time, and will look to forget that game with a win over Braga. The Gunners could have ended
up on top of the English Premier League had they held onto their lead. The defeat would have played havoc with Arsenal fans’ minds, and manager Arsene Wenger even vowed to “give every drop of his blood” to ensure his team’s trophy drought ends this season.
He admitted to the Saturday fixture “hurting when you get so close” and “not managing to do it”.
Both Arsene and Chamakh have made statements to the press concerning their eagerness to play another match so quickly after the English Premier League weekend. Chamakh, who has scored nine goals already to become the Gunners’ top scorer this season, has
said that “It will help us forget the Tottenham game” and that the team
“must focus on Braga and get a victory.”
Gael Clichy and Arshavin will not be travelling for the match as Clichy is said to have a back injury and the Russian is being rested due to being played regularly for his club as well as country during an international match last week.
Regular goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia is said to be suffering from an elbow injury and will not face Braga. Thomas Vermaelen and Abou Diaby are both sidelined with an Achilles and ankle problem respectively. Aaron Ramsey has also been ruled out due to a broken
leg. Robin van Persie will not make it to Portugal either as despite the Dutchman being fit, Arsene Wenger feels that he is not yet up to his full potential and needs more practice in training before being able to play. English international Keiran Gibbs and
the Danish, Nicklas Bendtner will be ready to start for the Gunners.
The Braga manager, Domingos Paciencia talked about there being a “unique” factor to this match as it will be the first time that the London club are travelling to face Braga at their home. The manager feels that his team “have what it takes to win” and that
they will “face the English with a very positive mind-set”, which can be interpreted to mean they will adopt an attacking rather than defensive game play. If the other members of Group H, Shakhtar do not succeed in beating Partizan, then a draw with Arsenal
could suffice to see Braga making it to the next round of UEFA Champions League matches.
Braga’s injuries include Paulao, who has a thigh injury and could not play for the whole of last month. An Achilles tendon problem will prevent Quinn from playing and reports suggest that he will be out for what remains of this year.
Ahead of the Champions League clash, Wenger was quick to downplay Arsenal’s supposed edge by saying “we do not feel any superiority” and that his team knows they have to “turn up with a good performance” in order to win this match.
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