Sevilla v Arsenal: Champions League – live

Arsenal haven’t yet got going this season. This is a positive development.

Seriously, stick with me. Mikel Arteta’s men began the last campaign superbly and they needed to – a more sedate start, they don’t generate the confidence and momentum that fired their title challenge. Now, though, things are different. Arsenal no longer think they might get good, they’re certain they’re good already, so what matters at this point is staying in touch. It’s in the new year, when pressure ratchets up, that their needle really needs to hit the groove.

However defeat at Lens last time out makes tonight’s encounter a problem; lose, and they’re in serious danger of group-stage elimination. Still, they should have enough to get a result here, given Sevilla, 13th in La Liga, are hardly formidable opponents on the face of things. Football matches, though, are not played on the face of things, and regardless of how well their team are playing, the Sánchez Pizjuán is never not a formidable opponent – especially in Europe.

As such, this would be a good time for Arteta to hit upon his most coherent XI, because though his side now know they can beat the best, they’ve not yet done it away from home in the Champions League. So a win tonight would represent another important landmark passed and leave them on the verge of qualification for the knockout stages. before they’ve even got going this season. That too would be a positive development.

Kick-off: 9pm local, 8pm BST