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Anderlecht
Anderlecht players celebrate a goal Reuters

Arsenal travel to Belgium to take on Anderlecht in their third Champions League group game on Wednesday 22 October.

Where to Watch

The kick-off is set for 7.45pm BST. Live coverage of the match will be available on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD.

Overview

Anderlecht welcome Arsenal to the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium for match day 3 in the Champions League. Anderlecht are still looking for their first win in this season's competition and will hope to take advantage of the Gunners sketchy form and injury crisis.

Anderlecht have also not been in the best of form in their domestic league after drawing their last two matches, but a win against Arsenal will take them to second place in the group behind leaders Borussia Dortmund.

Bensik Hasi will have almost a full squad to choose from and will hope his players can cause an upset and make up for the home loss against Dortmund last time around.

Arsene Wenger
Arsene Wenger will be keen to get a win over Anderlecht on the day of his 65th birthday Getty

Meanwhile, Arsenal come into this game on the back of a disappointing draw against Hull City in the Premier League. Apart from a lack of form, the Gunners are missing a host of first team players, mainly at the back, in defence and between the sticks.

Laurent Koscielny and Mathieu Debuchy are out for the long-term with achilles and ankle injuries respectively. But for this game, the main weakness is in goal. With Wojciech Szczesny suspended and David Ospina ruled out for three months, the north London side have to depend on un-tested 22-year-old Damian Martinez.

Arsene Wenger will hope for a good response from his team and will want a similar performance to the one against Galatasaray in their previous Champions League game. The Frenchman is also celebrating his 65<sup>th birthday on the day of the game and will want nothing but a win.

Wenger will have to ring in the changes, but will be glad to have midfield duo Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey back in the squad. Jack Wilshere, who was a doubt should also be fit to play.

What Managers Say

Besnik Hasi: "We are a very young, talented team and will get better but for us it will be a mistake if we are thinking because Arsenal are missing some players and have not been at their top level in their competition, that they will not be difficult opponents. That mistake will not happen here."

Arsene Wenger: "I am not a celebrator of birthdays – what is important is my team performs well. At the moment there is a difference between the quality of our performances and the points we get. We want to add something – that little percentage where we can improve is vital. Sometimes it depends on just a fraction more."

Betting Odds (888Sport.com)

  • Anderlecht to win: 7/2
  • Draw: 11/4
  • Arsenal to win: 7/9

Team News

Anderlecht

  • Injured: N'Sakala (knee)
  • Doubtful: Nuytinck (toe)
  • Suspended: N/A

Possible XI: Proto; Vanden Borre, Heylen, Mbemba, Deschacht; Tielemans, Defour; Najar, Praet, Suárez; Mitrovic

Arsenal

  • Injured: Debuchy (ankle), Koscielny (calf), Ospina (hip), Özil (knee), Sanogo (thigh).
  • Doubtful: Ramsey (hamstring), Walcott (knee).
  • Suspended: Szczesny

Possible XI: Martínez; Monreal, Mertesacker, Chambers, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey; Wilshere, Sánchez, Cazorla; Welbeck

Arsenal FC Arsene Wenger