UEFA Champions League Preview: Arsenal vs. Montpellier
Arsenal's Arsene Wenger will be looking for a Champions League title that has eluded him all these years as his team takes the pitch against a Montpellier side that few thought would make it to the competition.
While Arsenal is expected to come away with a result for their opening match, Wenger will be anxiously waiting on the touch line as his starting goalkeeper will be unavailable.
Wojciech Szczesny, Arsenal's defensive anchor, will miss the match after the Polish net minder recently picked up an ankle injury during his team's 6-1 victory over Southampton in the English Premier League.
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His absence will allow Italian Vito Mannone to have a go in between the posts for their opening Champions League match.
"Vito is very close to the number one jersey, and he gets another opportunity now," Wenger told the BBC.
"He was on the list as goalkeeper number five at the beginning of the season and now he is number two. That shows you how quickly football can change," he added.
Emotions will be high for this match but perhaps even higher for new Arsenal player Olivier Giroud as he will be face his old team for the first time. Giroud expects to score, but maintains that he will always have respect for his former club.
"I want to score in every match, but if I score against Montpellier I will keep the celebration small ... That is normal for anybody, for the club and Montpellier fans. It will be out of my respect to my old club," Giroud told Sky News.
"I'm an Arsenal player and I want to score and to win this game for Arsenal. It will be my first game in the Champions League, so I want to win it. Of course we are playing against Montpellier, but it is an important game for Arsenal and I have to forget it's Montpellier for 90 minutes," he added.
Coverage for the game starts and 2:30 p.m. and can be watched on ESPN 2 or online.
