Scout Notes – Champions League – Tuesday

Arsenal somehow manage to avoid a third consecutive Champions League opening defeat while Manchester City’s match (and the transport network) fall foul of the weather on a stormy night in every sense of the word.

Sanchez snatches point for Gunners

A 77th-minute strike from Alexis Sanchez (11.0) gave Arsenal a point they barely deserved from their Champions League opener in Paris.

Possession, attempts and shots on target stats might have been almost even, but the hosts were markedly the better side and should have won easily if not for their profligacy in front of goal.

The chief culprit was Edinson Cavani, who opened the scoring after just 42 seconds and then want on to waste three further chances as Arsenal struggled to find any rhythm throughout a torrid first half.

Arsene Wenger made three changes from the side that beat Southampton on Saturday, with Sanchez and Alex Iwobi (5.8) replacing Lucas Perez (8.5) and Theo Walcott (7.5), with the Chilean playing up front.

More surprisingly, Wenger opted for David Ospina (4.9) over Petr Cech (5.5) in goal. It was a purely tactical choice, the Frenchman insisted, which will be a relief for the 16.9% of Fantasy Premier League managers who own Cech – the third most popular keeper in the game.

“I have two world-class goalkeepers. I can give them both games. If they do not play, you can’t keep two world-class goalkeepers. But we have an in-house rule that the keepers know. It’s important to have clear rules like that. They know what the rules are for the season and, if they change, I’ll tell them. It’s down to performances whether he stays in the team but, on what he delivered tonight, David has the right to stay in the team for the next Champions League game.” – Arsene Wenger

Walcott’s omission, meanwhile, was precautionary for what Wenger described as a ‘very short term’ knee problem.

Arsenal, who looked porous at the back all night, improved after the break, but it took the introduction of Olivier Giroud (9.0) to change the course of the match. The move meant a return to the left flank for Sanchez and he thrived in that more familiar role, firing home a rebound from an Iwobi shot.

It’s two goals and as many assists in his last pair of starts now for Sanchez – he currently sits third in this week’s Captain Poll ahead of a trip to a Hull side that have conceded an attempt on goal every 4.6 minutes so far, quicker than any other side.

Giroud is yet to start a match this season, and he won’t be doing that in the Champions League any time soon having been sent off for a second bookable offence following a clash with Marco Verratti. That, conversely, could improve the striker’s domestic minutes if Wenger looks to rotate his squad for future European ties.

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Monreal, Koscielny, Mustafi, Bellerin, Coquelin (Xhaka 71), Ozil (Elneny 85), Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Giroud 63), Iwobi, Sanchez.

Pep’s European bow washed away

Torrential rain and a lightning storm that struck down Manchester’s tram network put paid to Pep Guardiola’s first group stage match as City boss.

There was time, however, to at least announce the team, with a number of decisions giving some pointers ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Bournemouth.

As expected, Sergio Aguero (13.0) was given the nod up front but remains banned domestically, while the in-form Kevin De Bruyne (10.5) continued in midfield despite limping off towards the end of the Manchester derby with what the local press had reported as cramp through fatigue.

Guardiola went for Aleksandar Kolarov (5.9) and Pablo Zabaleta (4.9) as his full-backs, which could indicate that Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy (both 5.4) are being lined up to start versus Bournemouth.

And Nolito (9.0) was replaced by Jesus Navas (6.4), again suggesting that the Celta Vigo signing is being preserved for a run at the Cherries.

The tie was re-scheduled to this evening, leaving City with just two full days to prepare for the Bournemouth fixture, and Guardiola might well shuffle his pack further as a result.

Man City XI: Bravo, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Stones, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Navas, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Aguero.