EPL: Huddersfield v Arsenal preview

Huddersfield v Arsenal preview

Arsenal will be looking to earn their first away points in 2018 when they travel to Huddersfield Town as Arsene Wenger takes charge of his final game.

The Frenchman announced his departure from the club after 22 years last month, but the Gunners have struggled on the road since the turn of the year, including a 3-1 defeat to Leicester on Wednesday.

When asked about his team, Wenger said: "I must say the players' attitude was great [against Leicester]. They were fantastic. I believe there is a special bond in the team. There's something waiting to come out of this team that is special, that I like very much. Hopefully, they can express that next season.

 

"It was very strange [Sunday's farewell at the Emirates] and I'm grateful for it because you can say it's sad but if you look at it in an objective way, when you have the privilege to manage a club of that stature for 22 years, you should be very, very happy and say 'thank you very much, it was a great privilege'. That's how I look at it."

 

For Huddersfield, they face Arsenal knowing their Premier League status is secured for next season after drawing 1-1 with Chelsea in midweek, and manager David Wagner says he is honoured to host Wenger for his final game.

"I'm so happy we can host him in his last Premier League game after 22 years - and we are able to host him in these circumstances," he said. "That we can give him all the honour and all the attention he deserves. This is possible after our last result on Wednesday.

"We as a football club will do it, we have the biggest respect for what he has done, we are happy that we play the last game against him and Arsenal. We, the players and the staff, will give him a guard of honour and the club, for sure, has a present for him as well."

 

Arsenal will be without the suspended Konstantinos Mavropanos for Sunday's game. The young defender was shown a straight red card in midweek and will be forced to sit out the game having started the Gunners' last three league matches.

Mesut Ozil (back), Mohamed Elneny (ankle), Laurent Koscielny and Santi Cazorla (both Achilles) are also missing but Alexandre Lacazette and Jack Wilshere could return after the England midfielder missed the midweek game following the birth of his daughter.

 

Wagner will select from an unchanged squad for Sunday's game. Tom Ince is hoping to feature after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Michael Hefele (knee), Elias Kachunga and Danny Williams (both ankle) remain sidelined.