MY ACCOUNT
– Arsenal have led at half-time and full-time in five of their eight home games in 2022-23
– FC Zurich have conceded the first goal in all five of their group games, losing four times
– Recommended Bet: Back Arsenal/Arsenal in the Half Time/Full Time market
Arsenal cannot afford another Europa League slip-up when they face FC Zurich at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night.
Defeat in Eindhoven last week means the Gunners have to match the result of PSV in their final group game to ensure they avoid finishing as runners-up and facing the extra strain of the play-off round in February.
Arsenal’s domestic dominance continued with a 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, although the loss of Bukayo Saka to injury was a blow.
Manager Mikel Arteta will not want to take any chances with his team selection here as Zurich have begun to improve after appointing Bo Henriksen as their new coach.
The Swiss champions achieved their maiden league victory of the season on Sunday and, after securing a first Europa League win of the campaign over Bodo/Glimt last week, can now look forward to a brighter future again.
Team news
Saka was a major doubt for the Gunners after coming off with a knock to his ankle at the weekend, but both he and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has had a niggling calf problem, trained on Wednesday.
Reiss Nelson, who scored twice as a substitute against Forest, could make only his second Europa League start of the season if Arteta decides not to risk Saka.
Emile Smith-Rowe remains sidelined and Granit Xhaka is suspended after picking up his third yellow card of the group stage against PSV Eindhoven last week.
There should again be starts for Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Eddie Nketiah, who were all on the bench for Sunday’s win over Forest.
They are the only members of Arteta’s squad to have started all five of the Gunners’ group games.
Regular Europa League goalkeeper Matt Turner, who missed last Thursday’s 2-0 defeat to PSV because of a groin problem, is unlikely to feature with first-choice Aaron Ramsdale set to start again.
For Zurich, wing-back Fabian Rohner is available again after serving a domestic suspension, but Mirlaid Kryeziu, Ilan Sauter, Blerim Dzemaili, Donis Avdijaj and Miguel Reichmuth are all sidelined through injury.
Ex-Rangers defender Nikola Katic is also an injury doubt after going off with a knock late in FCZ’s win at Sion on Sunday.
Henriksen will stick as close as he can to the starting XI that overcame Bodo/Glimt, but Antonio Marchesano will probably come in for veteran playmaker Dzemaili, who felt a calf strain last week.
The stats
Saka has been one of Arsenal’s most important players this season. In 17 matches across all competitions, he has recorded five goals and five assists.
The Gunners are among the most accurate passing teams in the Europa League (87%), second only to Manchester United (88.8%).
Zurich have suffered the fewest fouls (36) of the 32 clubs during the Europa League group stages.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo (28) has attempted more shots in this season’s competition than Nketiah (18).
The Arsenal striker had a busy evening in Switzerland when these sides met in September, assisting and scoring the Gunners’ two goals either side of conceding the penalty from which Zurich replied.
Prediction
Arsenal have a huge incentive to win this game as avoiding the play-off round could be crucial to keeping Arteta’s squad fresh in the spring.
The Gunners boss is likely to name quite a strong line-up in a bid to blow resurgent Zurich away in the early stages.
The Swiss champions had a few shaky moments when trying to seal their first domestic win in two months at the weekend and were fortunate to survive a missed penalty from hosts Sion.
Defensively, they remain prone to errors and their chances of shutting Arsenal out here look very slim indeed.
The Gunners have led at half-time and full-time in five of their eight home games in all competitions this season.
And Arteta’s men have the firepower to ensure they are ahead at the break and remain in control until the final whistle, with that scenario available to back at 4/9 with LiveScore Bet.
