TEAM NEWS
Marseille's Souleymane Diawara could be ready for their Champions League opener at home to Arsenal. The Senegal defender suffered a thigh injury during the 2-1 defeat to Monaco on September 1 but has returned to training and is expected to at least be part of the squad. New signing Florian Thauvin - who had been linked to Arsenal in the summer before joining Marseille - made his full debut at the weekend but is lacking match fitness and may be left on the bench.
Arsenal have been handed a boost ahead of their Champions League opener against Marseille after deadline-day signing Mesut Ozil and striker Olivier Giroud were passed fit. The duo had been in doubt after Saturday's 3-1 win over Sunderland, when midfielder Ozil made his Gunners debut. Centre-back Per Mertesacker is also back in contention after he missed the trip to the Stadium of Light while Thomas Vermaelen (back) returned to full training last week.
MANAGER QUOTES
Elie Baup (Marseille): "I know that Thauvin has to play He has trained a lot, he has run a lot, but he didn't see much pre-season match action. I don't know if he's ready, but he has to find match fitness. Against Arsenal we have to show a great mentality in terms of working together as a team, retrieving the ball and collective pressing."
Arsene Wenger (Arsenal): "What happened (in Arsenal's surprise 2-0 win at Bayern Munich last season that saw them lose on away goals in the last 16) is that we were in a position where we were expected to be hammered and everyone predicted a six or seven-nil. We had nothing to lose, we decided to go for it and realised after the game we were very close to knocking them out. Overall, I believe even last season we had a decent away record and from that moment you think, 'If we can go to Munich and win, why not anywhere else?'"
MATCH FACTS
Arsenal are unbeaten in their 10 away games against French opposition (6 wins, 4 draws). They have actually won each of their last five away matches versus French clubs.
Marseille have only won one of their last nine Champions League games against English opposition (v Chelsea, December 2010).
Marseille have only scored seven goals in 14 Champions League games against English clubs and never more than one in a game.
Arsenal and Marseille's two competitive encounters have produced only one goal: a 1-0 win for the Gunners at the Vélodrome before a goalless draw at the Emirates in the 2011/12 Champions League group stages.
Marseille have lost their last three Champions League games.
Marseille have failed to score in five of their last eight Champions League games.
Arsenal have only kept two clean sheets in their last 24 Champions League games away from home, one of those games being at Marseille's Vélodrome stadium (October 2011).
This is the 16th consecutive season Arsenal will play in the Champions League, only Manchester Utd (18) and Real Madrid (17) can boast longer current streaks.
Arsenal have made it past the group stages in the last 10 seasons but have been knocked out at the last 16 stage in the last three campaigns.
Their solitary Champions League final ended in defeat against Barcelona in 2006.
Arsène Wenger has taken charge of 152 games in the Champions League, more than any other current manager. Only Alex Ferguson has more (190).
Elie Baup won three of his 12 Champions League games as Bordeaux manager.
MATCH ODDS
Marseille 21/10, Arsenal 6/4, Draw 9/4
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