On Wednesday, 11 December, Arsenal will play at home against Monaco. Both teams have already secured their place in the top24, but the meeting is important from the point of view of the fight for the top eight. So far, the clubs are just on the edge of the coveted zone.

Arsenal stumbled again in the APL - lost points in the meeting with Fulham. The club risks falling off the championship race even before the New Year holidays. In such a situation, the Champions League becomes the priority tournament. At the same time, the match with Fulham is an accident. On XG there was a colossal advantage for the guests. Arsenal scored almost three goals, while the opponent realised almost the only approach to the goal.

The club has difficulties with the composition. First of all, we are talking about the defence: Zinchenko, Calafiori, Magalhaes, Tomiyasu, White - all will not help in the upcoming match. This is definitely a chance for Monaco's fast attack.

The Monegasques have quite the schedule in the French championship. The team is only five points behind PSG and is still in the fight for the title. In the last match Monaco confidently dealt with Toulouse. But before that there were two defeats in a row - from Benfica and Marseille. In the home game with the Portuguese in the Champions League, a lot was decided by a penalty - before it Monaco did not look weaker.

Ado Hütter's wards are very seriously underestimated before the meeting with Arsenal. Still, the top club of Ligue 1 got in the line odds of more than 10.00. It is doubtful that there will be a game in one goal, given the injuries of the favourite and the difficult calendar of the London team. Arteta's charges already have a scheduled clash with Everton on Saturday - you can't lose points there at all. The Champions League is definitely not a priority right now. It is logical to save the players for the crazy New Year period in England.

Monaco itself has previously shown itself against the grands. In the first round, the Monegasques dealt with Barcelona. Young talents like Manes Akliusz and Georgi Ilenikhena are motivated to the limit in such encounters.

Hütter will not be able to count on an optimal squad in the upcoming encounter. Folarin Bolagun and Crepin Diatta are in the infirmary. The loss of a striker is a significant disadvantage, but the coach has the opportunity to use a deep rotation.

Monaco are rated at the level of APL outsiders in the line. Even a win with a two-goal handicap is offered at odds around 1.60. A defeat in such a meeting is unlikely. Monaco has not yet collapsed in any of the matches. A strong club with motivated youth is able to take advantage of personnel difficulties of the favourite. The fatigue factor is also not in Arsenal's favour.