1 day Ago By Vincent Whelan
ARSENAL have been handed a tough assignment to start off their Champions League campaign. With Sunday's top of the table tussle with Man City on the near horizon, they're in Italy this evening to take on last season's Europa League winners . Amid all of the changes to the competition's structure and broadcasting arrangements, it's taking everyone a bit of time to get used to following this revamped 'Swiss model'.
Here's how Arsenal fans in Ireland can keep up with this evening's match: The match will be shown on TNT Sports 1. So if you're a subscriber with them you also have the option provided by the TNT Sports streaming platform or via NOW TV. It will be an 8 pm start Irish time.
Build-up from Bergamo begins at 7 pm. The home side are priced at 16/5 while The Gunners are 4/5 favourites. A draw is available at 27/10.
Skipper Martin Odegaard continues to be the primary injury concern for Mikel Arteta. Having missed their derby win over Spurs , his manager reiterated that his ankle problem is 'significant'. Worryingly, Arteta was unable to specify a return date .
He said: "After everything was scanned, the scan showed he has got some damage, especially on one of the ligaments in the ankle so we are going to miss him. “I don’t want to [give a timeline] because I am not a doctor. "But it is something quite significant so we are going to lose him for a while.
Hopefully not months but let’s see." Arteta also discussed Arsenal having a replacement for Odegaard, adding: "Yes [we have the replacement] but we have to show that. "He is our captain, he is one of our biggest players without a doubt.
"He has been one of the most consistent players in the last two or three seasons. "Our identity is very related to his way of playing and his way of behaving. We are going to have to deal with that.
"That is a great test for the team as well, of how capable we are to show maybe a different face and the fact we have other players and other options that can still be very effective." Odegaard scored 11 goals and assisted 11 more in 48 appearances for Arsenal last season..
