On Thursday night, Arsenal will look to seal top spot in Group A of the Europa League when the Gunners welcome FC Zurich to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal form guideThe Gunners have already sealed their place in the knockout rounds of the Europa League. Mikel Arteta’s team are top of the group but are only two points clear of second-place PSV Eindhoven. If the home team want to ensure top spot, they have to better PSV’s result in the other game.
Before a 2-0 defeat in Eindhoven, Arsenal had won all four of their games in Group A whilst also keeping three straight clean sheets. The Gunners recovered from the loss against PSV by hammering Nottingham Forest 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
FC ZurichThe Swiss were considered the weakest team in the group at the beginning of the campaign, and so it has transpired as the visitors are bottom of the group, having picked up just three points from their five matches. Only a win would be enough for a third-place finish and a place in the Europa Conference League in the new year.
However, wins have been in short supply in the group stages of the Europa League for the visitors, as a 2-1 win over Norwegian team Bodo/Glimt, last time out ended a four-game losing streak in the competition. The victory also ended a run of poor defensive displays for Zurich, who had conceded at least two goals in their previous four group games.
Latest team newsDue to injuries, Arsenal will be without Bukayo Saka, Mohamed Elneny, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Emile Smith-Rowe. Granit Xhaka is ruled out through suspension. Goalkeeper Matt Turner is also an injury doubt.
Zurich are expected to be without Blerim Dzemaili, Miguel Reichmuth, Ilan Sauter, Mirlind Kryezi and Donis Avdijaj, all due to injuries.
What am I backing?Although Arsenal will be missing some players for this clash, I am backing the Gunners to be winning at half-time and full-time, as they should have too much quality for the visitors.
