Girona vs. Arsenal | Champions League | League Stage | Pre Match

Needing just a point to ensure their rightful place in the last 16 of the Champions League, Arsenal's final league phase encounter takes them to Girona's Montilivi base on Wednesday evening. The stakes may not be as high for their Spanish hosts, who have already been condemned to an early exit, but pride and the potential to upset a European giant remain strong motivating factors.

The third-placed Gunners eased to a 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb last time out in Europe, showcasing their dominance in the competition, while Girona fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against AC Milan, continuing their frustrating run in the tournament. Mikel Arteta's men, now just one positive result away from sealing automatic qualification, are expected to approach the fixture with the same intensity and discipline that have characterized their European campaign thus far.

As Liverpool and Barcelona have already booked their places in the next round, Arsenal are next in line to cement their status among Europe’s elite. Arteta’s squad heads to Spain with a relatively comfortable cushion, knowing that even a loss would require an improbable set of results to jeopardize their top-eight standing. With their passage to the knockouts all but secure, Arsenal could soon begin planning for their customary warm-weather training trip to Dubai while 16 other sides battle it out in the playoffs next month.

Arsenal’s journey through the group stage has been marked by impressive attacking displays and an unyielding defense. Their 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb was not just another routine win; it was a statement of intent. Goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Martin Odegaard capped off a dominant performance that also saw the Gunners create club history by securing three consecutive European Cup/Champions League wins by at least three goals for the first time. In an era where defensive stability is just as crucial as attacking prowess, Arsenal's record of not conceding from open play in this season’s Champions League speaks volumes about their resilience at the back.

That defensive strength was put to the test again in Saturday’s Premier League clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite going down to ten men following a highly controversial red card for Myles Lewis-Skelly, Arsenal showcased their defensive steel and tactical discipline to hold on for a 1-0 victory. Riccardo Calafiori’s fine strike was enough to separate the sides, keeping the Gunners within touching distance of Premier League leaders Liverpool.

While their form has not been flawless in 2025—winning only once in their first four matches of the year—Arteta's men appear to have rediscovered their rhythm, registering three wins in their last four outings. With aspirations of securing both the Premier League and Champions League titles, Arsenal remains one of the most formidable sides in Europe, though catching Liverpool domestically will require a near-perfect run in the coming months.

On the other side of the pitch, Girona enters Wednesday’s clash in dire straits. The Spanish outfit has struggled to adapt to the intensity of European football, suffering multiple setbacks in their maiden Champions League campaign. The latest blow came at the hands of AC Milan, where a first-half strike from Rafael Leao proved to be the difference. While the narrow scoreline suggests a closely contested affair, Girona has been consistently second-best against Europe’s top clubs.

The White and Reds have endured a tough reality check in the Champions League, with their only victory coming against Slovan Bratislava—a team yet to earn a single point in the tournament. Michel’s side has been on the receiving end of humbling defeats to European powerhouses, including 1-0 losses to Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain. Their lack of firepower in front of goal is a glaring issue; Girona has failed to score in their last four European matches and is now at risk of becoming the first team from one of Europe’s top five leagues to lose five consecutive Champions League games without finding the back of the net.

Their struggles have not been confined to the continental stage either. In La Liga, Girona’s form has taken a nosedive, with their most recent setback coming against Rayo Vallecano. A 2-1 defeat on home soil has left them languishing in eighth place, a far cry from the promise they showed last season. The club’s struggles highlight the difficulties faced by teams attempting to juggle both domestic and European campaigns, a challenge that has often proved insurmountable for less experienced squads.

On the injury front, Arsenal received a timely boost with both Odegaard (illness) and Mikel Merino (knock) participating in training on Tuesday. Their return to fitness is a welcome sight for Arteta, particularly given the ongoing injury concerns plaguing his squad. Myles Lewis-Skelly’s three-game domestic ban has also been overturned, though it would not have impacted his availability for the Girona clash regardless. However, Arsenal will still be without some key players, including Gabriel Jesus (ACL), Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), and Ben White (knee), all of whom remain sidelined.

Despite the injury setbacks, Arsenal boasts plenty of firepower heading into Wednesday’s encounter. Havertz is bidding to score in his fourth consecutive Champions League match, a feat last achieved by a German player in 2015 when Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus managed the same streak. With the likes of Rice, Odegaard, and Havertz in fine form, Arsenal will fancy their chances of breaking down a Girona side that has been defensively vulnerable.

Meanwhile, Girona faces an uphill battle with several key absences of their own. Tottenham loanee Bryan Gil is suspended after accumulating three yellow cards in the competition, further limiting Michel’s attacking options. To make matters worse, the Spanish side suffered a double injury blow in their recent La Liga outing, losing both Daley Blind and first-choice goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga against Rayo Vallecano. While Michel was initially optimistic about Gazzaniga’s availability, he has since confirmed that both players will miss the Arsenal game, joining Miguel Gutierrez (ankle) and Ladislav Krejci (groin) on the sidelines.

With nothing but pride left to play for, Girona must dig deep to avoid further embarrassment in what has been a disappointing European campaign. The challenge will be immense, as Arsenal, driven by their pursuit of silverware, will be eager to impose their dominance and secure a comfortable qualification to the last 16.

As the final whistle approaches, Arsenal will look to put the finishing touches on what has been an impressive group stage performance. Their journey to Girona represents the final hurdle before the knockout rounds, and barring an extraordinary collapse, the Gunners will soon shift their focus toward bigger challenges in the latter stages of the tournament. For Girona, however, this match is an opportunity to salvage some pride, though the odds of an upset remain firmly stacked against them.