Girona host top-eight chasing Arsenal in a final league phase fixture in 2024-25 UEFA Champions League.
Victory could see already-eliminated Girona finish as high as 28th if results elsewhere go in their favour, whilst Arsenal will secure a top-eight finish with a win although a draw will be enough.
Team News
Bryan Gil is suspended for Girona after he picked up his third booking of the campaign in their 1-0 loss at AC Milan.
Paulo Gazzaniga (muscle) is a doubt but Daley Blind (muscle) is set to join Miguel Gutierrez (ankle) and Ladislav Krejci (groin) on the sidelines.
Arsenal could welcome Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard after a knock and illness respectively forced the midfield pair to miss their Premier League win at Wolves.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was red carded at Molineux but is available because his ban only applies to domestic matches.
Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White (all knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Girona host Arsenal at Estadi Montilivi on Wednesday 28 January at 8pm, live on TNT Sports 4 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Girona’s first-ever competitive clash against Arsenal in all competitions.
- Arsenal are facing Girona away for the very first time in a competitive fixture.
- Girona lost their only previous competitive meeting against English opposition, which came in a 1-0 defeat at home to Liverpool in December 2024.
- Four of Girona’s six defeats have been by 1-0 results in the league phase.
- Arsenal have failed to score in two of their three away games in the league phase of this season’s competition.
Prediction
With all four of their games in 2025 settled by slender one-goal margins, Girona can’t be underestimated because their defence is clearly resilient and difficult to beat, despite having lacked much attacking quality in this competition but I do expect them to be a huge danger with nothing really to play for.
Arsenal though were certainly made to grind out a smash-and-grab winner at Wolves in a game where they dominated but often lacked the clinical final touches at times, but I don’t expect them to have similar issues here if they can get at and wear down Girona’s defence.
Although patience will be needed initially, I just can’t see Arsenal winning this by one goal especially with Odegaard back in the team.
Prediction: Girona 0-2 Arsenal
Result: Girona 1-2 Arsenal
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