Arsenal will look to cement their place at the top of the Champions League table to qualify for the round of 16 clash from the first place. After thrashing Ludogorets 6-0 at home, Arsenal will look for a similar outcome when they visit the Bulgarian club away at Stadio Vasil Levski. With a clash against Tottenham Hotspur in the weekend North London derby, the Gunners will look to build on their recent form and dispatch Ludogorets.
Arsenal go into the match after winning 4-1 away at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland. Ludogorets were also been excellent in their 5-3 away win at Dunav. They are, however, yet to win a game in the Champions League making the group a clear two-horse race between Arsenal and PSG.
Team news
Arsenal
Arsenal have seen brilliant from their returning players Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey. While Giroud scored twice coming off the bench against Sunderland, Ramsey got an assist after his return from a long injury layoff. Arsenal also saw their right back Carl Jenkinson producing a decent performance in the midweek against Reading FC.
With Nacho Monreal still an uncertainty, Kieran Gibbs is expected to start against Ludogorets and he has been brilliant in the left back position. Apart from that, Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott are also expected to return but are likely to start from the bench. Striker Lucas Perez has been ruled out for a month.
Ludogorets
It may be because of an easy league as Ludogorets have absolutely no injury problems in their squad, which might be a cause of worry for Arsenal. They are now acquainted with Arsenal’s style of play and could churn out an upset by playing deep.
Predicted lineups
Arsenal (4-2-3-1) – Ospina; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs; Coquelin, Elneny; Sanchez, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Giroud
Ludogorets (4-2-3-1) – Borjan; Natanael, Palomino, Moti, Minev; Dyakov, Anicet; Wanderson, Marcelinho, Cafu; Keseru
Key Players
Arsenal- Arsenal have found a new attacking weapon in Olivier Giroud after his brilliant return from injury. Wenger will be looking to push Sanchez on the left in place of Alex Iwobi and keep Giroud up front for a good link up play. Mesut Ozil will be looking to replicate his hat-trick against Ludogorets again this midweek. Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain have been fierce this season and the absence of Walcott will prompt him to prove his mettle in the Champions League. He also had a goal in the reverse fixture.
Ludogorets- Striker Claudio Keseru have been in terrific form for the club scoring a whopping 9 goals in 9 appearances till now. Marcelinho, the Brazilian attacking midfielder has also bagged 5 goals and 10 assists. Arsenal will need to watch out for them.
Odds
Arsenal @ 1.33
Draw @ 5.75
Ludogorets @ 3.40
