Girona vs Arsenal: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Girona are set for a struggle in this fixture, facing an Arsenal side who are in brilliant form heading into this game.

Girona have lost their previous three matches heading into this game and have failed to keep a clean sheet in four of their previous six matches in all competitions. Girona have already faced English opposition in the form of Liverpool, to which they were beaten 1-0, and the hosts are winless in their previous four European games, failing to score in those four.

Despite the Gunners missing notable names such as Bukayo Saka, they have averaged two goals in their last two European matches and have won their three previous European games coming into this one. The Gunners are also unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions.

For this match, we can’t see anything other than an Arsenal win. The Gunners are within reach of a spot in the next round, whilst Girona’s campaign has dwindled with only one win from seven.

Girona 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal will be looking to mathematically secure their place in the next phase of the Champions League, as they travel to Spain to face a Girona side already eliminated from the competition.

Date:29/01/2025
Location: Estadi Montilivi, Girona.
Kick-Off: 8pm

Girona looks on course to potentially secure another European adventure next season, as the club are only a point behind the European places in La Liga - with 28 points gained from a possible 63 in the league. The home side qualified for the European Elite last season for the first time in the club’s history, and this campaign, they have found life in the Champions League a task too far.

Les Pirates have only won once in their seven European matches and have no mathematical route to qualify for even the play-off stages, with the home side seven points adrift of VfB Stuttgart with one game left to play. Girona have only managed three points in this competition, having scored four and conceded 11 in seven matches.

Mikel Arteta can view the Champions League as another realistic competition to win, considering the domestic competitions have faltered as of late this season. The Gunners are in second place in the Premier League, six points adrift of Liverpool, who have a hand. Arsenal are already out of the FA Cup, with a penalty shoot-out loss to Manchester United and are 2-0 down to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

The visitors only need a point to secure qualification to the round of 16, as the Gunners have recorded 16 points from seven matches, only losing once in the competition.

The game will be available to watch on TNT Sports 4.

Girona Team News:

Girona have no fresh injury or suspension concerns to deal with ahead of this game.

Arsenal Team News:

Arsenal's attacking options are somewhat depleted with injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, who are expected to be out for a considerable period of time. William Saliba will also be unavailable for this game.

Girona and Arsenal have never met in European competitions, so it will be difficult to gather any semblance of a victor based on the historical advantage of this fixture. Girona faced English opposition this season, as mentioned when they hosted Liverpool, where they were defeated 1-0 by the Premier League leaders, thanks to a penalty by Mohamed Salah. Arsenal have a storied history against Spanish opposition, having famously lost to Barcelona in the 2006 final.

Girona:

Girona are coming into this game on the back of some terrible form, with the home side having lost their previous three matches heading into this game. The hosts have most notably lost against Rayo Vallecano (2-1), Milan (1-0) and Sevilla (1-2). Despite the form on a steady decline, they have still managed to showcase a great attacking threat, scoring first in five of their previous six matches. The hosts have suffered five straight defeats in this competition, failing to score in all four matches - including conceding four against PSV Eindhoven.

On home soil, Girona have won only once in this competition - their only win in the UEFA Champions League to date - in context that was against Slovan Bratislava (2-0), who are winless from their seven matches played in this competition. Girona have also been poor on home soil in recent weeks, with the Gironistes losing three of their previous five matches at home and two defeats from three at the Estadi Montilivi.

Arsenal:

On the other hand, Arsenal are in excellent form coming into this game. Since the 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final, Arsenal have been unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions (excluding penalty shootouts). The Gunners have recorded victories against the likes of Tottenham Hotspur (2-1), Dinamo Zagreb (3-0) and Wolves (0-1) - the latter was far more impressive considering the conditions of Arsenal being reduced to ten men.

On their travels, Mikel Arteta’s side have a tremendous away record, as the Gunners are unbeaten in their last seven away matches in all competitions - with five wins and two draws. Arsenal have picked up notable victories against Brentford (1-3), Crystal Palace (1-5) and in the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon, to which the Gunners were 5-1 winners against a Sporting side who were unbeaten in European competition at that stage.

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