Having overcome the first hurdle -- a playoff win over Galatasaray -- Arsenal start their Champions League group stage campaign with a difficult trip to Marseille. Arsène Wenger's team might have recovered from their shaky start to the season and been buoyed by their record signing of Mesut Özil, though they'll find it difficult to come away from the Stade Vélodrome with all three points.
Marseille vs. Arsenal: Preview and TV schedule
Arsenal open their Champions League group stage campaign with a tough match away in Marseille.
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They may no longer be the dominant force in French football, though Marseille still boast an impressive squad, and one that the Gunners shouldn’t underestimate. Having added both talented youth and experience in the summer -- including attacking midfielder Florian Thauvin and winger Dimitri Payet from Lille -- Élie Baup’s team should be the best of the rest behind the big-spending Paris-Saint Germain and Monaco in Ligue 1 this season.
The hosts could be without veteran midfielder Souleymane Diawara with a thigh injury, though Arsenal have much more reason for concern on the injury front. They have seven players certainly unavailable, and will be hoping that Per Mertesacker, Olivier Giroud and Mesut Özil recover from their respective problems to be available.
Marseille injuries and suspensions
Out: None. In doubt: Souleymane Diawara (thigh).
Arsenal injuries and suspensions
Out: Santi Cazorla (ankle), Tomáš Rosický (thigh), Abou Diaby (knee), Mikel Arteta (thigh), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee), Lukas Podolski (hamstring), Yaya Sanogo (back). In doubt: Per Mertesacker (virus), Olivier Giroud (knee), Mesut Özil (illness).
Projected lineups
Marseille: Steve Mandanda; Jérémy Morel, Lucas Mendes, Nicolas N'Koulou, Rod Fanni; Gianelli Imbula, Alaixys Romao; Dimitri Payet, Mathieu Valbuena, André Ayew; André-Pierre Gignac
Arsenal: Wojciech Szczęsny; Kieran Gibbs, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Bacary Sagna; Aaron Ramsey, Mathieu Flamini; Jack Wilshere, Mesut Özil, Theo Walcott; Olivier Giroud
Match Date/Time: Wednesday, 8:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET
Venue: Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France
TV: Fox Soccer Plus (U.S.), Sportsnet 360 (Canada), Sky Sports 4/HD (U.K.), Canal+ (France)
Online: Fox Soccer 2Go (U.S.), Sky Go (U.K.)
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