Marseille v Arsenal – Matchpack

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Team news, manager quotes and match facts ahead of the Champions League Group F fixture between Marseille and Arsenal at Stade Velodrome.

Marseille lacked the services of playmakerMathieu Valbuena at the weekend as they drew 0-0 with Toulouse, but the the diminutive midfielder. OM are still waiting for striker Andre-Pierre Gignac to find his rhythm after a below-par start to the season because of poor preparation.
Defender Kieran Gibbs is out of Arsenal’s trip to the Stade Velodrome due to a stomach muscle injury he suffered in Sunday’s game against Sunderland. Aaron Ramsey, who missed the 2-1 win over the Black Cats with a hamstring strain, has trained and will travel with the squad to France. Long-term absentees Bacary Sagna (broken leg), Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) and Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby(both ankle) are unavailable.
MANAGER QUOTES
Didier Deschamps: “I don’t want to be too pessimistic (about our situation). I’m aware of the difficulties we are facing but we are working on that and we are trying to build some confidence.”
Arsene Wenger: “Marseille is a good team but they are under pressure a little bit like we are in the league because they didn’t start as strong as they would have expected. That puts more pressure on you. They have done well in the Champions League, certainly, because it is a competition where there is a bit less expectation and they are less under pressure.”
MATCH FACTS
Marseille have lost five and won just one of their last seven Champions League matches against English opponents.
Marseille have lost just two European home games against English opponents, winning seven and drawing one.
Arsenal have won eight and lost only two of their 16 European matches against French opposition.
The Gunners have never lost an away game inFrance in European competition winning four and drawing four.
Marseille are the team with the lowest tackle success rate in this season’s Champions League succeeding in only 56 per cent of their tackles.
Arsenal’s Alex Song is the player who has won the most tackles in the Champions League this season (13).
Marseille have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight matches in European competition (qualifiers excluded).
Arsenal’s last European match in France was the 2006 Champions League final at the Stade de France, which they lost 2-1 to Barcelona.