Venue and kick off time:
After letting slip a two-goal lead to lose at home to Tottenham for the first time in over 17 years, Arsenal will seek solace in the Champions League and an away trip to Braga, where a draw will be sufficient to secure their progression to the knockout stages.
• Brassell: Belief returns for Braga boss
It was the Portuguese side - nicknamed the Arsenalistas having changed their colours in honour of the Gunners in 1921 - who provided such willing opponents in Matchday 1 when being hammered 6-0 at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal then found themselves on the brink of qualification following a 3-1 win at Partizan Belgrade and a 5-1 destruction of Shakhtar Donetsk, but a defeat in the return fixture in Ukraine halted Arsene Wenger's team's progress. A point will be enough to see the Gunners safely through, but a surprise defeat will leave their hopes very much in the balance, given Braga start the day just three points behind their opponents.
The Portuguese side - who under the impressive rule of Domingos Paciencia finished second behind Benfica last season - were torn apart in North London and subsequently lost 3-0 at home to Shakhtar as their debut Champions League campaign started in humbling fashion, but back-to-back wins over Partizan have given them momentum, and at worst a place in the Europa League. Their chances of securing a shock win on Tuesday will have increased following the news that Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin have been rested by the Gunners, while Gael Clichy is absent due to injury.
Arsenal's prime concern is dealing with the psychological fallout of that surrender to Tottenham. Losing home bragging rights for the first time in a generation is an unwanted distinction for Wenger, and after seeing his team's mentality, concentration and character questioned, an impressive performance is a must. Though Braga have undoubtedly learned from their 6-0 thrashing, they have lost four of their past five games in the Portuguese top flight and look ripe for a beating.
Braga player to watch: Alan. Though the Brazilian-born forward does not boast an exotic name like many of his compatriots, he has the technique to worry Arsenal's defenders. His sporadic displays of skill provided very fleeting highlights in the 6-0 rout the last time the two clubs met and Alan was a marked man at Emirates Stadium, attracting seven fouls, four more than any other player on the pitch. The forward opened the scoring at the weekend for Braga in a 2-1 defeat at Vitoria Guimaraes to claim his first goal of the season and will be aiming to stretch the visiting defence.
Arsenal player to watch: Cesc Fabregas. Though his contribution with the ball remains largely impeccable, and will do so as long as this wonderfully gifted midfielder plays the game, Fabregas was at fault against Spurs with a silly handball to concede a penalty at Emirates Stadium. He is also the captain of a side that showed such mental fragility and it will have hurt to see his predecessor, William Gallas, play a crucial role for Spurs at the weekend. Fabregas needs to demonstrate his captaincy credentials - leading by example and assuming control of the game in Braga would do just that.
Key Battle: Laurent Koscielny v Lima. Arsenal's defence are under real scrutiny following the Tottenham capitulation and Koscielny still gives the impression he is yet to grow accustomed to the rigours of elite football. With two red cards already this season, the Frenchman is something of a liability and offers nothing like the solidity embodied by the injured Thomas Vermaelen, who has been sorely missed of late. When facing Lima, Koscielny, in tandem with Sebastien Squillaci, will be tasked with shackling a player who has scored four league goals this season and also claimed a hat-trick in the qualifying victory over Sevilla. If Lima gets the better of his opponent, then Arsenal could experience an awkward evening in Portugal.
Trivia: Second place behind Benfica in the Portuguese league last season represented the best finish in Braga's 89-year history.
Stats: Arsenal have qualified from the group stage in the past ten seasons in the Champions League.
Odds: Braga (4.00), the draw (3.60) and Arsenal (1.90) with Bet365. Braga HT/Arsenal FT is 23.00.
Prediction: Arsenal should respond to their defeat to Spurs and while a win is not guaranteed, progression to the knockout stages should be.
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