Arsenal are seeking to win back-to-back visits to Spain for the first time in 19 years, while Girona's only previous meeting with English opposition saw them beaten 1-0 by Liverpool last month.
Girona vs Arsenal Preview
Arsenal have been generally very impressive in this season's Champions League, now looking to rubber stamp their place in the round of 16. A week ago, the Gunners swatted GNK Dinamo Zagreb aside, with Declan Rice breaking the deadlock inside 100 seconds, before Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard were on target later on, securing a 3-0 victory in North London. Mikel Arteta's team have therefore won all four Champions League home games without conceding, also hammering Sporting 5-1 in Lisbon during their most-recent away game, their sole defeat coming at San Siro against Inter.
Thus, Arsenal kick off third in the gigantic league table, all but mathematically assured of a place in the top eight but, with four teams two points or fewer behind, they'll want to win to finish as high as possible. On Saturday, despite seeing Myles Lewis-Skelly scandalously sent off, the Gunners battled to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Wolves, Riccardo Calafiori the late match-winner, keeping them six points adrift leader Liverpool. So, ahead of Sunday's huge clash with Man City, will Arteta's team collect three points in Catalonia?
Girona meantime are debuting in UEFA competition this season, but this will be the end of their maiden voyage to the continent. That's because, Blanquivermells have lost six of their seven fixtures, failing to score during each of the last four, most-recently defeated 1-0 by A.C. Milan a week ago, their sole victory coming at home to Slovan Bratislava. The Catalan minnows are majortity owned by City Football Group, so their rise is hardly a fairytale, but just being involved in the Champions League is something that would've been beyond all Gironistes dreams.
On the field, since the start of November, Míchel's men had stabilised, winning five of eight La Liga matches, albeit they've since suffered back-to-back defeats, including being beaten 2-1 at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, conceding twice in three minutes right at the end at Vallecas. Thus, the 500 Arsenal supporters traveling to Montilivi on Wednesday will expect to see their side prevail.
Girona vs Arsenal Head-to-Head Record
These two clubs have never previously met.
Girona Team News
Former Spurs winger Bryan Gil, who scored at the weekend, is suspended, having been shown his third yellow card of the Champions League against A.C. Milan. Other former Premier League players who will feature include Daley Blind and Donny van de Beek, once of Man United, Oriol Romeu, formerly of Southampton, as well as Paulo Gazzaniga and Arnaut Danjuma, both also briefly of Tottenham. Bojan Miovski, who arrived from Aberdeen in the summer, as well as Miguel Gutiérrez are injured, while this may be 38-year-old Cristhian Stuani's last chance to score a Champions League goal, having been with Girona since 2017, including three seasons in the Segunda División.
Girona predicted lineup vs Arsenal: (4-3-3): Gazzaniga; Francés, López, Krejčí, Gutiérrez; Romeu, Herrera, van de Beek, Tsygankov, Danjuma; Abel Ruiz.
Girona Player to Watch vs Arsenal
Unlike the majority of his teammates, Abel Ruiz has plenty of European expirence from his time at Braga, so can the striker add to his three goals for Blanquivermells?
Arsenal Team News
With the job almost done, and a game against Man City on the horizon, Mikel Arteta would love to rotate, but isn't really able to do so, given that Benjamin White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka all remain sidelined. Captain Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino also missed the weekend win at Wolves due to illness, so it's as yet unknown if either will travel to Catalonia. In some much-needed good news, Ethan Nwaneri started for the first time since 4 January on Saturday, while both William Saliba and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who's red card sparked universal dismay, both returned following slight knocks. If Arteta does wish to rotate, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jorginho and Raheem Sterling could all start, as they did against GNK Dinamo Zagreb a week ago. Gabriel Martinelli must be careful, as he is one yellow card away from a Champions League ban.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Girona: (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Calafiori, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Jorginho, Merino; Nwaneri, Sterling, Havertz.
Arsenal Player to Watch vs Girona
Raheem Sterling has still only scored once for Arsenal, this against Bolton in the EFL Cup, but he does have 27 Champions League goals to his name, only two Englishman have more, so can he spark his Gunners' career into life?
Girona vs Arsenal Prediction
We are backing Arsenal for a win and a clean sheet at Montilivi, forecasting the Gunners will put in a professional performance and be too strong for their already eliminated hosts: Girona 0-2 Arsenal.
Girona vs Arsenal FAQs - Champions League
How to watch Girona vs Arsenal Champions League game on TV channel?
Girona vs Arsenal Champions League game will be available on the following TV channels;
- UK: TNT Sports 4
- USA: Paramount+
- Canada: DAZN Canada
How to watch Girona vs Arsenal Champions League game on live streaming?
Girona vs Arsenal Champions League game will be available on the following streaming services;
- UK: discovery+
- USA: Paramount+
- Canada: DAZN Canada
What is the date and kick-off time for Girona vs Arsenal in the Champions League?
Girona vs Arsenal takes place on Wednesday 29 January 2025, with kick off at 20:00 (GMT), 15:00 (EDT) & 12:00 (PST).