Arsenalvs.Monaco

The USA international came through the Gunners youth network before being sold to Les Monegasques in 2023, but he is working his way back from a shoulder injury and will therefore be denied a North London reunion.

Balogun is one of five Monaco men on Adi Hutter's unavailable list, as Krepin Diatta (muscle) and Edan Diop (foot) are also stricken, while defenders Christian Mawissa and Wilfried Singo are both banned.

Singo was dismissed for two bookable offences in Monaco's 3-2 defeat to Benfica on matchday five, while Mawissa picked up his third yellow card of the Champions League season in that game and serves a one-match ban of his own.

As a result, former Premier League pair Thilo Kehrer and Mohammed Salisu should line up in front of goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki, while Brazilian pair Vanderson and Caio Henrique bomb down the flanks.

One-time Chelsea man Denis Zakaria anchors the Monegasques midfield with Mohamed Camara, while just ahead of them, 19-year-old Eliesse Ben Seghir could become the second teenager after Kylian Mbappe to score in successive UCL games for Monaco.

The youngster should comprise 25% of an attacking quartet also featuring Maghnes Akliouche, Aleksandr Golovin and Breel Embolo, as ex-Liverpool man Takumi Minamino seeks to make an impact from the bench.

Monaco possible starting lineup:

Majecki; Vanderson, Salisu, Kehrer, Henrique; Zakaria, Camara; Akliouche, Ben Seghir, Golovin; Embolo

Written by

Ben Knapton