The 2014/15 season has not gone according to plan for Arsenal. From a domestic and international standpoint, it's been quite a struggle for Arsene Wenger's men, but they travel to Belgium today to take on an Anderlecht side who consider themselves the underdogs, but are out to prove a point.
A defeat on matchday one against Borussia Dortmund in Germany had Arsenal fans concerned, but the Gunners bounced back well with a 4-1 victory over Galatasaray at the Emirates.
As a result of that match, Arsene Wenger will be without Wojciech Szczesny today after the Polish keeper was sent off against the Turkish outfit. Making things worst for the French manager is the fact that new summer signing David Ospina has also been ruled out for up to three months with a thigh injury. Could things get any worst for the Gunners?
In their absence, 22-year-old Emiliano Martinez will get the start in goal for the North London side. But despite his inexperience, Wenger knows how important this match is for his side.
"It is very important to win tomorrow," Wenger told UEFA's official website on Tuesday.
"We know that we play in the Champions League, away from home, and it will be a battle - we need to produce quality in our game."
That quality has been missing for the English side, as they had to come up with a late equaliser on Saturday at home against Hull City. At the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium there will be a Belgian outfit that knows what their capabilities are.
Anderlecht may not have the same calibre of players as Arsenal, but the home side knows that with little expected of them in this match, it should allow them to play with less pressure.
"We have to play as we did against Galatasaray in Turkey," Besnik Hasi said on Tuesday.
"We have to find the same belief. We were without a number of players against Dortmund and we were too confident during that game. Arsenal are without a lot of players too. They seem to be in less good shape and less intimidating than usual, but Arsenal are still a top team and it will be dificult to beat them. We have to focus on ourselves and be clever when we have the ball."
The Belgian side will not have it easy this evening, but Arsenal's inconsistent form coupled with a lot of key absences could give the hosts a good chance at pulling off the upset.
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