Anderlecht vs Arsenal: Champions League match preview
A look ahead to Wednesday’s Champions League Group D fixture at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal travel to Brussels in the first game of a double header against Belgian Champions Anderlecht in their Group D champions League match.
After the disappointment of his sides 2-2 home draw with Hull, Arsene Wenger has some good news on the injury front with Aaron Ramsey, who came off the bench on Saturday, returning after recovering from a hamstring injury and Theo Walcott available for the first time since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against Tottenham back in January.
However the list of casualties at the Emirates is growing with keeper David Ospina out, leaving only 22-year-old Emiliano Martinez to replace the suspended Wojciech Szczesny. Laurent Koscielny is still a doubt for the Gunners who are also without Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud, but Calum Chambers is available after serving a domestic ban.
Anderlecht have not won in eight Champions League matches and Arsenal will need to win both home and away if they are to avoid finishing second for the four consecutive season.
KICK-OFF: Wednesday, 7.45pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS...
Arsenal 3 (Kelly, Radford, Sammels) Anderlecht 0, Fairs Cup, April 1970
Anderlecht 3 (Devrindt, Mulder 2) Arsenal 1 (Kennedy), Fairs Cup, April 1970
N/A
STATS...
Arsenal are in the group stage of the Champions League for the 17 consecutive season, but have failed to go beyond the round of 16 for the last four years.
The Gunners are second in Group D following 2-0 away defeat to Dortmund and a 4-1 home win against Galatasaray.
Anderlecht have only managed two points in eight Champions League games.
Since reaching the round of 16 in 2000/01 the Belgian Champions have finished bottom of their group seven times.
ODDS...
Anderlecht to win: 5
Draw: 4
Arsenal to win: 1.73
TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 7.45pm.
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