The Gunners have the opportunity to validate their direct qualification for the round of 16 in the event of a victory against Dinamo Zagreb and depending on other results. It will still be without William Saliba, not sufficiently recovered from hamstring pain.
For this fifth consecutive home match, Arsenal returns to the Champions League in the shoes of a well-ranked team (third before this day), but without great footballing certainties, like the last draw against Aston Villa.
As in the last two seasons, the injury of one or two executives radically changes the face of this team. And after losing Martin Ødegaard for a long time, Mikel Arteta must do without Bukayo Saka, who has been absent for a month. “He’s doing really well. explained the Spaniard this Tuesday. He feels better every day but we have to respect the healing process and he then has a lot of stages to go through in his rehabilitation. » His return is expected in March.
Continuation of the health bulletin with news from William Saliba, injured in his hamstrings after Tottenham. “He is progressing well, in recent days he has already felt much better but this match comes a little too early for him. » The Frenchman should be there to play the clash against City in ten days, and that’s good because his absence forced Timber to play in the center and Partey on the right, the latter not being Dani Alves from the FC Barcelona era.
However, the staff has recorded the return to training of Nwaneri and Calafiori and they will at least be on the bench against the Croatians. The Italian could even possibly start on the right? And since we’re talking about Italians, let’s come to Fabio Cannavaro, the new coach of Dinamo.
-Indeed, the 2006 Ballon d’Or was called to the bedside of a team only third in its championship, of which they are nevertheless quadruple reigning winners. For now, Cannavaro’s coaching career is nowhere near the level of his playing career. After experiences in China, he only stayed 17 matches at Benevento (for three victories) and six at Udinese.
The trip to the Emirates will be his first official match with the Croatians who have played three friendly matches while their championship is on break. This meeting must be an opportunity to assert yourself in style and regain your confidence. Zagreb has eight points (including two victories against Salzburg and Bratislava), and was in great difficulty against the big guys, like their 9-2 loss in Munich.
The Gunners have a series of different matches and competitions, but this one should not pose a problem. Well, let’s hope so. And above all: secure the three points to move towards the round of 16!
Swiss
