MY ACCOUNT
Arsenal look set for a very different test from their 3-0 win over Bodo/Glimt at the Emirates, as the Premier League frontrunners head to Aspmyra Stadion.
With a lively home crowd and an artificial surface to contend with on a cold night in northern Norway, Thursday’s Europa League clash will provide a good test for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.
Team news
After a 4-1 Eliteserien win over Sandefjord at the weekend, Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen has no new injury concerns ahead of the arrival of the Gunners to Norway.
Sondre Fet and Gaute Hoberg Vetti remain sidelined with knee and hip injuries, respectively, but there were no fresh injury setbacks for his first-team players from their weekend endeavours.
Arsenal themselves remain without the midfield pair of Mohamed Elneny (hamstring) and Emile Smith Rowe (groin), while there are doubts about whether defender Oleksandr Zinchenko will return in time after his recent muscular problem.
After a thrilling 3-2 win over Liverpool last weekend and a trip to Elland Road to face Leeds on Sunday, Arteta is likely to make some changes for the trip to Bodo.
The stats
Arsenal should head to Bodo with confidence after their comprehensive win against the current Norwegian champions at the Emirates last week.
Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding and Fabio Vieira scored as the North London outfit’s quality shone against a Glimt side that let the game get away from them in a short spell in the first half.
Glimt will now look to take confidence from their excellent home record, having lost just once in their last 16 matches in all competitions at Aspmyra Stadion.
The Eliteserien outfit have also never lost a home game in the Europa League, going five games unbeaten.
Arsenal have been strong on their recent travels in the competition, winning three of the last four outings on the road.
A 2-1 defeat at Villarreal last season was the only blot on the Gunners’ copybook away from home in that four game spell.
Prediction
Arteta will undoubtedly be focusing the minds of his Arsenal players after what was a straightforward win over Glimt in North London.
Glimt’s home record speaks for itself and shows how tough a place it is to get a positive result, especially if Arteta is to make changes to his side with Premier League commitments in his thoughts.
The artificial surface will play a significant role and teams like Roma, Dinamo Zagreb, Celtic and FC Zurich will testify to how difficult it is to win at Bodo having both lost on their last visits.
Roma’s 6-1 hammering last year in the Europa Conference League will sharpen the minds of any Arsenal player heading to Norway thinking a regulation three points is on the cards.
Glimt in the double chance market catches the eye with 9/5 via LiveScore Bet on offer for either the hosts to win or draw on Thursday night against what is likely to be a much-changed Arsenal starting XI.
