MY ACCOUNT
Arsenal have breezed through Europa League Group A with three wins from three so far, but they face an altogether sterner test in their rearranged clash with PSV Eindhoven.
The Dutch visitors sit two points behind the Gunners in the table and represent the only serious threat to Mikel Arteta’s team claiming top spot.
The Eredivisie outfit kicked off their European campaign with a disappointing 1-1 home draw against Norwegians Bodo/Glimt, but found their shooting boots in their double header against FC Zurich, thrashing them 5-1 in Switzerland before again thumping them 5-0 on home soil last Thursday.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s free-scoring side have been cutting loose domestically as well as in Europe, notching an impressive average of 3.5 goals per game in the Eredivisie, so Arsenal supporters should be in for an entertaining evening as they look to confirm their place in the knockout stages.
Team news
Arteta has been resting the majority of his first-choice XI for Arsenal’s Europa League matches, and with so many Premier League games to come he is likely to continue that rotation even against a strong PSV side.
The Arsenal manager will not be able to call upon Emile Smith Rowe, who is expected to be unavailable until after Christmas, while midfielder Mohamed Elneny is also a long-term absentee.
Left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko is progressing in his recovery from a calf injury but is unlikely to be rushed back for the Europa League.
Van Nistelrooy is struggling with a number of injuries in his PSV ranks, with as many as seven players potentially unavailable.
Yorbe Vertessen is a confirmed absentee and fellow forward Luuk de Jong is a significant doubt. However, the PSV manager is hoping Noni Madueke will return to fight for a place in the front line.
In midfield, Mauro Junior has a chance of returning but Marco van Ginkel and Ismael Saibari will again miss out, as will defender Olivier Boscagli.
The stats
Van Nistelrooy’s side are in rich goalscoring form, scoring four or more goals in four of their last six outings. That run includes the 5-0 and 5-1 defeats of FC Zurich but also takes in a 4-3 defeat of fellow Eredivisie highflyers Feyenoord and a 6-1 trouncing of FC Utrecht.
The Dutch side have failed to score in only one of five Eredivisie away games this term — including 6-1 and 5-2 victories at midtable pair Excelsior and Go Ahead Eagles — while they beat Ajax 5-3 in Amsterdam in the Johan Cruyff Shield, as well as claiming score draws away at Monaco and Rangers during Champions League qualification.
However, Arsenal’s goalscoring exploits have been even more impressive as Arteta’s men have netted in all 13 games this season, winning 12 of those.
And while the second string have not been quite as prolific in the Europa League as the first-choice XI have been in the Premier League, they are not far behind, notching exactly two goals per game in Europe compared to 2.4 goals per game domestically.
Prediction
While this match can be read as a shootout for top spot in Europa League Group A, there is very little pressure on either set of players as both clubs are in an extremely strong position to qualify.
That should lead to an open, entertaining encounter between two teams that look to attack at every opportunity but can leave themselves vulnerable defensively against better opponents.
And while the starting line-ups that Arteta has selected in Europe have been notably weaker than his Premier League XI, confidence is coursing through the club and none of his back-up players have let him down this season.
Eddie Nketiah has two goals in Europe, Fabio Vieira has staked a claim for a place in the Premier League XI with a goal and an assist from three appearances and fellow new signing Marquinhos has hit identical numbers to Vieira in just over half the amount of playing time.
The visit of PSV will be the first serious test for Arteta’s fringe players but it is one they should pass and an Arsenal win with both teams to score looks a strong option at 6/4 with LiveScore Bet.
