We pick out three individual duels which could decide matters as Arsenal travel to Marseille.
Can Arsenal rediscover their mojo as they travel to France to take on Marseille?
Arsenal travel to the Stade Velodrome to take on a Marseille side whose back-to-back wins in the UEFA Champions League sit in stark contrast to a run of just one Ligue 1 success in 10 outings. Arsene Wenger will have warned his players against complacency though, with his own side's form far from anything like what he'd be happy with. Robin van Persie's sublime free-kick at the weekend ensures Arsenal travel to France on the back of a hard fought win over Sunderland, but Wenger is well aware anything less than a thoroughly professional display could end in tears. Here, we pick out three individual duels which could decide matters in Marseille
Robin van Persie v Souleymane Diawara
With Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri both departed, Van Persie is now unquestionably Arsenal's key man. He is at once the talisman, the on-field leader and the playmaker - roles he excelled in across the board with a match-winning display against Sunderland at the weekend. Diawara is his side's most experienced and physical defender and will be the man charged with keeping Van Persie quiet.
Alex Song v Lucho Gonzalez
Although used as an emergency centre-back at times this season, Song's primary role in the Gunners side is to break up play in front of the back four and release more dynamic team-mates. Argentina international Gonzalez will be the man to catch his attention in Marseille. With an eye for goal and a tendency to support the attackers through the middle, Song will need to starve him of time on the ball to negate the opposition gameplan. Wenger has conceded he tried to sign Lucho over the summer, with the Argentine likely to be desperate to show Arsenal what they have missed out on.
Carl Jenkinson v Andre Ayew
A low-key signing from Charlton in the summer, injuries at the back have forced Arsene Wenger to promote Jenkinson a little earlier than he might have liked. Stepping in for Bacary Sagna at right-back, he has shown genuine promise but also a tendency to drift. In Seclin-born forward Ayew, Marseille have a player more than capable of exposing any such weakness. Pacy and with a good scoring record, OM may choose to test Jenkinson by filtering play through Ayew.
