Arsenal head on the road in the UEFA Champions League to face Belgian side Club Brugge.
The Gunners currently sit top of the Champions League table, and are hoping to extend their winning start on Wednesday evening.
Arsenal have had a superb European campaign with five wins out of five, leaving them four points clear of Tottenham in ninth, who are on 11 and played on Tuesday.
Victory in Belgium would leave them around six points clear of those outside the automatic qualification spots, and as only two games to go after this evening, it would take something quite spectacular for the Gunners to end up in the play-off round.
If the worst-case scenario were to occur, Mikel Arteta’s side will be guaranteed to be in the play-off round, though it is expected that a top-eight spot will be sealed within the next couple of games.
Bouncing back quickly from a tough day in Birmingham
Wednesday is crucial for Arsenal in that they manage to get back to winning ways after their 18 game unbeaten streak was ended dramatically on Saturday by Aston Villa. A late goal from Emi Buendia saw the hosts snatch a 2-1, which allowed Manchester City to cut the gap in the Premier League to just two points.
Arteta said in his pre-match conference about how Arsenal want to “continue to do the job that we have started in the first five games” of the Champions League.
The fixture schedule looks a bit more favourable for Arsenal in the next week or so, with trips to Brugge before hosting winless Wolves at the Emirates on Saturday night.
It’s much kinder than when they travel to face Inter in the next matchweek, with games away at Nottingham Forest and at home against Manchester United in between.
After Arsenal’s performances in the first five games of the Champions League, this might offer Arteta a chance to rotate some of his players who are either in need of some rest or in need of minutes.
Declan Rice has not travelled with the team to Belgium, meaning that someone else will come into play in that position.
Another few players who are in need of minutes are Academy products: Myles Lewis- Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, both have seen their minutes drop considerably compared to last season, which is understandable.
The Club Brugge match offers a chance for them to both get some important minutes, especially for Nwaneri, who has had no minutes since he played 65 in the 3-0 win at Slavia Prague on November 4th.
Christian Norgaard could also come into the team tonight, which would allow Martin Zubimendi to have a little bit of rest.
Arsenal’s Brazilian winger is on the verge of breaking a club record in the UEFAChampions League****.
He has so far scored in all four of his UEFA Champions League matches (he didn’t play against Slavia due to injury).
A goal in Belgium tonight would see him become the first player in Arsenal history to score in five consecutive games.
When asked about why he loves the Champions League so much.
“I think in the Champions League, sometimes it's a bit more open, the game. Everyone just wants to attack and have loads of space sometimes.
*“In the Premier League, it is a bit more tricky to score and to have more space. I am really happy with the goals that I have scored to help the team, and I hope to keep playing.”*