Galatasaray vs Arsenal: Champions League match preview

A look ahead to Tuesday’s Champions League fixture at the Turk Telecom Arena

Arsene Wenger in training ahead of the match against Galatasaray (Getty Images)

Arsenal will be looking to snatch top spot from Borussia Dortmund when they take on Galatasaray tonight. Two weeks' ago, the Gunners secured qualification from Group D, with a 2-0 win over Dortmund at the Emirates, while Galatasaray resigned themselves to an early exit when they lost 2-0 to Anderlecht.

When these sides last met, Arsene Wenger celebrated his 18th anniversary as Arsenal manager with an emphatic 4-1 win over the Turkish outfit. But he will rest some key plays tonight, ahead of the clustered Christmas schedule.

Champions League latest scores including Liverpool vs Basel and Galatasaray vs Arsenal

Wenger took the unusual approach of naming his side a day early, with fringe players such as Yaya Sanogo, Lukas Podolski and Joel Campbell to get a run out as well as young defender Hector Bellerin. Wojciech Szczesny will start in goal, while there is a welcome return for the fit-again right-back Mathieu Debuchy, who has missed three months with an ankle injury.

The Turkish Super League runners up are cemented to the bottom of the table after picking up just one point from their five Champions League fixtures. A win will do nothing to improve their standing.

Arsenal have never lost to Turkish opposition inside 90 minutes and if they win tonight, they will take top spot from Dortmund, if Jurgen Klopp’s men lose to Anderlecht. If Dortmund draw, Arsenal will need to win by a minimum of six goals to win the group.

KICK-OFF 19:45

PAST MEETINGS:

Arsenal 4 (Welbeck 3, Sanchez) 1 Galatasaray, Champions League, October 2014

Galatasaray 0 Arsenal 0, (Galatasaray win 4-1 on penalties), UEFA Cup final, May 2000

STATS:

This is the 15th season in succession Arsenal have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League

Arsenal have scored 11 goals so far in their Champions League campaign, while Galatasaray have only managed three

Galatasaray are undefeated in their last five home games against Premier League opposition

Galatasaray have lost just four of their last 20 European home fixtures

ODDS:

Galatasaray to win: 2.9

Arsenal to win: 2.3

Draw: 3.5

TV: Live on Sky Sports 5, kick off 7.45pm