Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Arsenal's Champions League clash with Montpellier.
The Gunners currently sit second in Group B and could secure their passge into the knockout phase with a win tonight.
Montpellier, meanwhile, need to win to stand any chance of progressing from the group, although one point from their opening four games has given them an uphill struggle.
Please note that kick off is at 7.45pm.
Good evening! Welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of Arsenal vs Montpellier. As noted above, Arsenal will progress if they win tonight and leaders Schalke beat Olympiakos in the group's other game.
The Gunners won the reverse fixture 2-1 way back in September, coming from behind courtesy of goals from Lukas Podolski and Gervinho.
You'd have to fancy Arsene Wenger's men today, but a loss would not be catastrophic. It certainly wouldn't prompt the Frenchman to be sacked as was the case with Chelsea earlier today!
Arsenal will be in good spirits having seen off North London rivals Tottenham 5-2 at the weekend.
Montpellier, however, are not in good form. They currently sit down in 14th in Ligue 1 and are without a win in their last four games. Can they stop the rot tonight?
Right! Time to bring you some team news!
The stand out news for Arsenal is that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been given a starting role in the absence of the injured Theo Walcott. Olivier Giroud will also be looking to continue his recent goalscoring form against his former club.
Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Koscielny; Arteta, Podolski, Wilshere, Cazorla; Giroud, Ox-Chamberlain
Subs: Mannone, Ramsey, Coquelin, Arshavin, Jenkinson, Gervinho, Gibbs
Subs: Mannone, Ramsey, Coquelin, Arshavin, Jenkinson, Gervinho, Gibbs
Montpellier: Jourdren; Bedimo, Yanga-Mbiwa, El Kaoutari, Congre; Estrada, Cabella, Belhanda, Mounier; Deplagne, Charbonnier
We will, of course, be keeping you up to date with goings on elsewhere tonight, including a return to Manchester for a certain Cristiano Ronaldo. He was great at United and is now even greater as he returns to try and knock City out of the competition.
Speaking of United, they are the only English team to have secured their place in the next round so far, but Arsenal will be looking to change that. City and Chelsea, meanwhile, have an uphill battle.
There has already been one Champions League tie played today as Zenit and Malaga played out a 2-2 draw.
Meanwhile, there has been some exciting talk in the Arsenal camp about a potential third stint at the club for record goalscorer Thierry Henry. He may not be the same player as when he left for Barcelona, but he will always be welcome back at the Emirates I'm sure!
If you weren't salivating enough over the prospect of tonight's match, have a read of Sports Mole's preview.
Taking it away from Arsenal briefly but staying in London, reports are emerging that Rafael Benitez to Chelsea is a done deal!
People may not agree with the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo, but they have got themselves a truly great manager in Benitez. As tacticians come, I don't think there are any better in world football right now. Yes, including Mourinho!
So an Arsenal win looks like the most likely outcome tonight, but it is worth bearing in mind that they have NEVER beaten French opposition at home in this competition. Not once.
Arsene Wenger believes that Montpellier have focused too much on the Champions League which has impacted on their league form. Last season's Ligue 1 champions have been poor so far this campaign.
Just under 10 minutes to go until kick off, time for some predictions! I can't see anything other than an Arsenal win tonight, and they could get some goals too. I think it will be two or three nil to the home side.
You can read more on that Benitez to Chelsea story here. It's now official, Benitez is back in management! What a whirlwind 24 hours for Chelsea fans!
The players are out and lined up as the trademark Champions League jingle hits. When that music kicks in more often than not there is a special night of football ahead! Let's hope today is the same!
The Turkish officials are ready to get this match underway...
...and we're off!
Montpellier have begun the match pressing high up the pitch, but Arsenal look comfortable knocking the ball about.
...and as I say that Per Mertesacker hoofs the ball upfield and loses it!
Jack Wilshere gives the ball away twice in quick succession. Still easing himself back from injury.
Nervy moment for Arsenal as Cabella beats Vermaelen before crossing. Nothing comes of that one but Szczesny flaps at the next cross, causing his defence to have to scramble the ball clear.
Charbonnier almost escapes Koscielny but the defender gets back to block his shot. Montpellier have made the brighter start here!
There has been the first Champions League goal of the night and it has gone to Dortmund, who take the lead against Ajax.
Arsenal are starting to settle into this one now. They have a corner as Oxlade-Chamberlain's cross is blocked by Bedimo...
...Cazorla whips it in towards Mertesacker but it is headed behind for another corner...
OFF THE BAR! The Gunners work the corner and eventually get the ball into the box through Vermaelen's cross and Koscielny gets a good contact on the ball with his head, but it crashes off the bar.
CHANCE! Immediately afterwards the other centre-back has a chance. Mertesacker shows very un-Mertesacker-like skill to beat a defender but he just couldn't get his shot away.
Half chance for Montpellier as they break through down the left, but Szczesny is out quickly to get a hand to the ball and clear the danger. If he had got that wrong it would have been a penalty and red card!
It was Mounier who Szczesny beat to the ball. Montpellier now have a free kick in a good position after Koscielny's foul.
The wall does it's job but Montpellier don't give up and Estrada wins a corner for his side.
Arsenal safely clear it away and there is a hint of a counter attack, which eventually leads to Oxlade-Chamberlain almost finding a way through the defence.
This match is beginning to liven up!
Elsewhere, Real Madrid have taken the lead against Man City. Guess who? Nope, not Ronaldo. Karim Benzema is the goalscorer.
Cazorla dances past his man in the middle but his final ball is badly overhit. He is the man most capable of providing the spark to get Arsenal going.
News of another goal to bring you, this one for Porto, who have taken the lead against Dinamo Zagreb.
Cazorla again jinks his way past his marker, but Yanga-Mbiwa fells the Spaniard before he can break away.
Ox has a chance to whip the ball in to Podolski but he fails to beat the first man. The England international will be disappointed with that.
Giroud snatches at a shot from about 25 yards out, but he drags it well wide of the Montpellier goal.
A great ball finds Oxlade-Chamberlain but he is well tackled as he looks to beat his man. The resulting corner is poor, but Montpellier make a hash of clearing it, allowing Chamberlain to fire at goal, but it was straight at the keeper.
Both sides are knocking the ball about fairly comfortably when they get it, but when it comes to the final third they are not creating enough chances.
And the latest example sees Giroud horribly overhit a pass to Podolski when a perfect pass would have sent the German through on goal.
CHANCE! Koscielny strides forward from the back resulting in the ball falling to Podolski. The German makes room for a shot instead of passing to Giroud, but he dragged it wide on his weaker right foot.
Wilshere so nearly finds Podolski in the box but the ball just eludes him. The final pass is not happening for Arsenal so far but they are beginning to exert their authority on this game.
Wilshere ghosts past his man on the edge of the box before giving it to Giroud, but once more a promising position leads to nothing.
CHANCE! Cazorla slips Podolski in for arguably the best chance of the half, but the German fires wide. It wasn't a sitter by any means but he should have at least made the keeper work.
Sagna battles his way down the right and somehow forces a cross in with two defenders in attendance. It is cleared for a corner, but once again it fails to beat the first man.
YELLOW CARD! Cazorla gets his name in the book for a cynical foul as Montpellier looked to break away.
Dortmund are now 2-0 up against Ajax in Amsterdam. It looks as if they will be joining Real Madrid in the next round from the 'group of death'.
Make that 3-0! The Germans really are on good form in this season's competition.
Back to North London and Arsenal will be looking to get something to show for their efforts in the last few minutes of this half.
Bedimo embarks on a good run down the left, but he seems to be suffering from the same thing as the Arsenal team as the final ball lets him down!
Sagna floats in a delicious looking cross that Giroud likes the look of, but some good defending ensures that the Frenchman does not get a chance to add to his Arsenal goal tally.
Belhanda beats Wilshere in the middle and drives towards goal before letting fly from 25 yards, but it is high and wide and not troubling Szczesny.
Just the one added minute here.
Arsenal 0-0 Montpellier
Not the most inspiring of halves, but Arsenal won't be too down. They have hit the bar and Podolski has missed a decent chance, but they have been lacking the killer pass. Montpellier, meanwhile, have largely been restricted to a couple of long range shots which haven't troubled Szczesny at all.
PSG have taken the lead just before half time through Lavezzi. They lead Dinamo Kiev 1-0 now.
You can read a report of the major incidents of that first 45 minutes in Sports Mole's half time report here.
Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn is not happy with his side's performance so far! "Flat", "sloppy" and "the opposite of what I expected" is a fair summary of his views.
Right, let's bring you a half time round up throughout Europe shall we? Ajax 0-3 Dortmund; Anderlecht 0-0 AC Milan; Dinamo Kiev 0-1 PSG; Porto 1-0 Dinamo Zagreb; Man City 0-1 Real Madrid; Schalke 0-0 Olympiakos.
In terms of what this means for Group B, Schalke would progress if everything stays the same, but Arsenal would only have a one point lead over Olympiakos knowing that they still have to travel to Greece for the final group game. They will, then, be eager to avoid that potential banana skin and finish it off today.
We're back out and underway at the Emirates. No changes for either side.
AC Milan have made a perfect start to the second half of their match, taking the lead against Anderlecht through El Shaawary.
Bedimo goes on another marauding run down the left and gets a bit of a shove, but nothing to make him throw himself to the ground like he did. The referee was having none of it, and rightly so.
GOAL! Jack Wilshere
We have the breakthrough! A much better start to the half for Arsenal as Wilshere gets his first goal since returning from injury. Vermaelen's ball is excellantly headed down by Giroud to Wilshere who delicately lifts the ball over the keeper.
Suddenly the fans inside the Emirates can be heard! "1-0 to the Arsenal" is the chant.
An error from Sagna allows Mounier in, but the right back does well to recover and block the cross.
YELLOW CARD! Giroud picks up the second booking of the match for a wayward arm that hit a Montpellier player in the face.
Lavezzi has doubled his personal tally in Kiev, making it 2-0 to PSG.
Cabella unleashes another long ranger for Montpellier, swiftly followed by an effort from even further out, but neither troubled Szczesny.
Podolski is pulled back for offside when it looked as though he was through on goal, but replays show that it was a wrong decision.
Giroud is now called offside and again it's an incorrect decision! The linesman is not endearing himself to the Gunners at the moment!
Montpellier make a rare foray into the Arsenal box, working it in from a corner, but they are eventually crowded out.
GOAL! Lukas Podolski
WOW! Wow, wow, wow. What a goal that is from Podolski. Oxlade-Chamberlain gives the ball to the German, who lends it to Giroud before peeling off the defender to volley home the Frenchman's return pass. A great, great goal.
YELLOW CARD! Oxlade-Chamberlain threatens to break away but Bedimo is all over him and gets his name in the book. You're meant to wait until full time to swap shirts Bedimo!
Podolski lines up another left footed volley in an attempt to hit what would have been one of the best braces you will ever see, but a defender gets across to deflect it wide.
SUBS: Double change for Montpellier as Cabella and Charbonnier go off while Herrera and Martin replace them. Arsenal also make a change, bringing on Ramsey for Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Some goals elsewhere to bring you: Porto have gone 2-0 up against Dinamo Zagreb, Milan have doubled their lead against Anderlecht, who have been reduced to 10 men, and Dortmund have gone 4-0 up!
Giroud is inches away from connecting with a cross which, with his aerial ability, you would have expected him to bury.
CHANCE! Podolski is allowed ludicrous amounts of space down the left and cuts it to Giroud, who's initial shot is blocked allowing him to lay it back to Cazorla, who doesn't quite catch the half volley as well as he would have liked to.
Man City have equalised AND Madrid have been reduced to 10 men! Could they turn it around?! Also, Milan's second goal is causing quite a stir. People are already mentioning it in the same breath as that Ibrahimovic goal. Mexes was the scorer, keep an eye out for it!
YELLOW CARD Koscielny seems unwilling to clear his lines and eventually loses it. He lunges at the man who dispossessed him and concedes a free kick.
CHANCE! The best chance of the match for Montpellier as the ball falls to Herrera in the box, but Koscielny throws his body in front of his shot to block it.
A very significant goal for Arsenal fans: Schalke have taken the lead against Olympiakos. If everything stays the same, Arsenal will go through tonight. Anderlecht have already pulled a goal back against Milan too.
CHANCE! Podolski slides a fine pass through to Giroud, but the striker cannot punish his former side as the keeper gets out quickly to block his shot.
YELLOW CARD Deplagne gets his name in the book for a foul on Cazorla, who is not happy!
CLOSE! Mikel Arteta whips a free kick into the box. Everyone leaves it and it almost creeps in at the far post!
SUBS: Double change for Arsenal as Coquelin and Gervinho replace Cazorla and Giroud.
Porto have sealed the points in their match, they now lead Dinamo Zagreb 3-0.
OUCH! Deplagne gets a powerfully struck clearance from Vermaelen right in the face. That's gotta hurt!
In this break in play I can tell you that Ajax have pulled a goal back against Dortmund to make it 4-1.
Milan have restored their two-goal cushion to all but claim the three points. They lead Anderlecht 3-1.
There will be three added minutes here. The match is winding down, both sides know that the game is over as a contest.
Herrera still fancies getting his name on the scoresheet tonight, but his shot goes just wide.
Arsenal 2-0 Montpellier
There you have it! A lacklustre first half was cancelled out by a professional performance by the Gunners in the second period. In the end it was a comfortable win and, due to results elsewhere, Arsenal will be in the draw for the knockout stages for the 13th year in succession.
That's it from me tonight! Thank you for joining and be sure to stick with Sports Mole for analysis, news and reaction from tonight's matches.
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Barney Corkhill
