Soccer
Girona vs. Arsenal: Preview, team news, prediction for Champions League match
Watch Girona vs. Arsenal on DAZN in CAN & NZ
Already-eliminated Girona host Arsenal on the final matchday of the Champions League's league phase on Wednesday.
Girona managed just a single victory from their first seven matches and thus will not continue in the competition after this game. The La Liga side will look to go out on a high note in front of their own fans.
They face an Arsenal side who will definitely move on to the knockouts, with advancement directly to the round of 16 the likeliest of scenarios.
Still, the North London side aren't yet assured of skipping the knockout round play-offs, and any points picked up in this match will allow them to secure a last-16 berth.
- Read next | Champions League permutations: How Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Celtic can advance
Girona vs. Arsenal: Head-to-head and recent statistics
- All-time meetings: 0
- Girona wins: 0
- Draws: 0
- Arsenal wins: 0
These sides have never met in a competitive match.
Girona vs. Arsenal: Team news
Girona
- Injured: Gazzaniga, Blind, Krejci, M. Gutierrez
- Suspended: Gil
Arsenal
- Injured: Saka, Jesus, Odegaard, Gabriel, White, Tomiyasu
- Suspended: None
Girona vs. Arsenal: What the managers are saying
Michel Sanchez, Girona
(via GironaFC.cat)
“[On Wednesday] there are important objectives. To start with, it's a game we want to win in front of our fans and also for image and prestige. We have deserved to be here and we want to prove it”
“People should be proud of all of us. On a personal level I have really enjoyed the competition and if we can't go to the Champions League we must fight for Europe”
“Maybe everything has gone too fast and last season we accelerated the European process a lot but it has also helped the club to grow a lot”
“In the competition we must take care of the small details. A metre, for example, is important in attack and defence. And that not only affects the Champions League, but also LaLiga”
“We enjoyed the experience of Europe, that's why we want to come back”
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal
(via Arsenal.com)
"We’re here to win the game and in order to do that we’re going to have to be better than them. They’re a really good side, if you look at the games they’ve played in the Champions League against top opposition, they’ve made life very difficult for them. So tomorrow it will be a very strong team in order to achieve what we want to do because mathematically the qualifying at the moment is uncertain."
Girona vs. Arsenal: Prediction
With Arsenal's long list of injuries, we expect Arteta to bring in some lesser-used players and grind out a draw, which would be enough to secure advancement to the round of 16.
Prediction: Girona 1-1 Arsenal
