Ludogorets v Arsenal preview: Gunners aim to qualify for Champions League knockout phase

Arsenal travel to Ludogorets in the Champions League on Tuesday night looking to progress to the round of 16 of Europe's premier club competition.

Arsene Wenger's side thrashed the Bulgarian champions 6-0 at the Emirates when the two teams met in the previous round of Group A fixtures, with Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil scoring a hat-trick.

The Frenchman must decide, though, whether to pick a full-strength starting line-up at the Ludogorets Arena, with the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur to come on Sunday lunchtime.

However, with the Gunners currently level on points with second-placed Paris Saint-Germain - who travel to Basel on Tuesday - in the group after three games, Wenger and Co cannot afford to drop any points in Bulgaria if they wish to win the group and in theory earn an easier draw come the round-of-16.

Arsenal, who won 4-1 at Sunderland on Saturday to remain joint top of the Premier League with Manchester City and Liverpool, host the Ligue 1 champions in three weeks' time in a fixture that looks like determining who will win the group and who will be runners-up.

"It's our prime target to win the group," said Wenger. "We have a home game with PSG to come so we have a good opportunity.

"For the second leg of the last 16 at home, if it goes to extra-time or penalties...it's a little advantage. They are all little advantages added together.

"We have paid the price many times when we've finished second in the group, having to play Barcelona or Bayern Munich. If you can finish first, why finish second. We always try to finish first."

Arsenal will qualify for the Champions League knockout stage with a win against Ludogorets, provided PSG do not lose at the Swiss champions.

Team news

Santi Cazorla (Achilles) and Nacho Monreal (muscular) both missed training on Monday, but Arsenal hope to have Theo Walcott - who trained alone - available after the forward missed the weekend with a hamstring problem.

Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsey could start after making his comeback from injury at Sunderland, but the likes of Lucas Perez, Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck are all long-term absentees.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Opta stats

Ludogorets have never beaten English opposition in European competition; the Bulgarian side lost 2-1 at Anfield to Liverpool and then drew 2-2 against them in Sofia during the 2014/15 group stages (as well as the 6-0 defeat versus Arsenal in the previous matchday).

Ludogorets have only recorded one win in their nine previous Champions League matches (D2 L6); their sole victory coming at home against Basel in October 2014 (1-0). It's also their only clean sheet in the competition.

Arsenal have remained unbeaten in their first three Champions League group games for the first time since the 2011/12 campaign.

The Bulgarian side (D2 L3) have only managed to claim one victory across their last six home games in European competition (excluding qualifiers).

Ludogorets have scored in all four of their Champions League home games.

None of Arsenal's last 39 away games in the Champions League have ended goalless. The last 0-0 was at Slavia Prague in November 2007.

The last time an English team lost an away game against a Bulgarian side was in March 1982, when CSKA Sofia beat Liverpool in the European Cup quarter finals (2-0). Since then, English teams have won nine of their 12 trips to Bulgaria (D3) in all competitions without ever failing to score.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Charlie Nicholas' prediction

I was amazed at how open Ludogorets were in the first leg. I thought they'd just come and park the bus but they actually had a few chances in the first 10 minutes and I was a bit concerned until Arsenal got the first goal.

I assume they'll be same at home, which plays into the hands of this Arsenal team, who have excellent movement in attack with Alexis Sanchez leading the line.

I think Arsene Wenger will make a few changes, which often unsettles me but seems warranted here with qualification all but assured. He'll change the goalkeeper as per usual but I'm not convinced he will start Olivier Giroud as he'll want to bed him in more gently.

I can't see Theo Walcott being risked with a hamstring problem ahead of the north London derby, so Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will get another chance to impress, while it would make sense for Granit Xhaka to come in as he serves his domestic ban.

Charlie predicts: 1-3 and Oxlade-Chamberlain to score first (45/1 with Sky Bet)

Betting

Arsenal are just 30/100 with Sky Bet to see off Ludogorets, who are 8/1 to avenge their thumping Emirates defeat, with the draw priced at 9/2.

The Gunners are 50/1 for a repeat of their 6-0 victory from a fortnight ago, with Olivier Giroud the 11/4 favourite to score first after bagging a brace as a substitute at the weekend, while Alexis Sanchez is 3/1 for another double.

Wenger's men are marginal favourites to win Group A at 5/6, but 25/1 shots to win the Champions League.