Arsene Wenger does not expect a free-scoring encounter when Arsenal host his former club, Monaco in the Uefa Champions League round of 16 first leg tie on Wednesday.
The principality club have conceded only three goals in 14 games in all competitions since the end of the group phase in December, with just a solitary defeat- a 1-0 loss at Guingamp in a league game on 8 February (W9 D4 L1).
Coach Leonardo Joardim’s men also have the best away record in the French Ligue 1 with 23 points from their 13 games so far, including successive wins in their last four matches on the road.
“Monaco made 11 points in the group stage, scored four goals and conceded one, so that means they defend very well,” Arsenal boss Wenger said in his press conference on Tuesday.
“That’s what they will certainly do tomorrow and they are also very good on the break, quick in transition, so that’s what we expect from them.”
Both last-16 opponents are meeting for the first time in Uefa competition. Wenger had a seven-year spell with Monaco between 1987 and 94 as head coach, leading the side to a league triumph in 1988 and a French Cup success three years later. Monaco were losing finalists in the 1992 European Cup Winners’ Cup final (now Uefa Super Cup) under the French manager.
Arsenal are making their 15 consecutive appearance in the knockout phase of the elite competition and, having lost at this stage in each of the last four seasons, the 65-year-old is “focused on just qualifying for the quarter-final.”
“It was the start of my career and I didn’t know how long I’d be in the job or where I would be,” Wenger said. “It was my first chance to be in a big club, I was very young and you’re always grateful for that.
“It is the first time they (Monaco) have put a lot of investment into the team again because they were in the second division.”
Arsenal last won a round-of-16 game in the 2009/10 campaign- a 6-2 aggregate victory over FC Porto. They have since suffered elimination in the same stage at the hands of Barcelona (2010/11), AC Milan (2011/12) and Bayern Munich (2012/13 and 2013/14).
“We have been in the Champions League for 17 consecutive years- easy is a word that you have to ban in the Champions League,” he noted.
“Every time we have been in there, it was through hard-earned wins. It is always a one-goal difference- you go out for one goal, you stay in for one goal and that means you have to work very hard.”
Jack Wilshere was on the bench for the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace FC at the weekend. Wenger said he is “fine” but is “the only uncertainty” in his team. Oxlade Chamberlain, who was out with a groin injury since January 18, is “close” to a return.
Matthieu Debuchy (shoulder) and Mikel Arteta (ankle and calf) are ruled out of the encounter.
Monaco keep faith in defense
Monaco kept a clean sheet throughout an eight-match unbeaten Ligue 1 run, which ended with the 1-0 defeat at Uefa Europa League contenders Guingamp.
Currently ranked fourth in the Ligue 1 table after Saturday’s 1-0 win at OGC Nice, Joardim’s side booked their round of 16 ticket as Group C winners with 11 points- two fewer than Arsenal managed in finishing Group D runners-up behind Borussia Dortmund. They conceded just once in six group stage games but created just 56 chances.
Monaco has never been favourites and we still qualified top of our group,” the former Sporting Lisbon coach, 40, said. “It’s the same here; nobody expects us to win but that shouldn’t stop us reaching the quarter-finals.”
With central defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Andrea Raggi out with calf and knee injuries respectively and defensive midfielder Jeremy Toulalan suspended, Joardim admits he is short in numbers, but wants the available players to remain optimistic in their defensive qualities.
“We have a few players missing from the side that got us here, but it is the boys on the pitch that matter,” Jordim told reporters.
“The most important thing is that we stay faithful to our football philosophy and our defensive quality- we can also attack well and get important goal here.”
