ARSENAL make their return to European football TONIGHT – but with a tough opening group game against Swiss champs FC Zurich.
The Gunners will be determined to put the disappointing 3-1 loss to Manchester United behind them.
However, Zurich are having some problems of their own as they are still waiting on a their first league win this season.
- Kick-off: 5.45pm
- TV/live stream: BT Sport 2
- Zurich XI: Brecher, Kamberi, Kryeziu, Aliti, Boranijasevic, Dzemaili, Selnaes, Okita, Krasniqi, Guerrero, Aiyegun.
- Arsenal XI: Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Lokonga, Xhaka, Vieira, Marquinhos, Martinelli, Nketiah
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Arteta pre-match comments
Mikel Arteta spoke yesterday on the test Zurich will pose his team and his strong selection for the travelling squad.
“We don’t have that many players available, unfortunately, with injuries we’ve picked up in the last two weeks.
“This is a competition that we want to take very seriously, against an opponent that is going to make life difficult for us.
“We want to start the competition the right way and maintain our momentum.
“The biggest danger is that, after the season they (Zurich) had last year, they haven’t got the results that they expected.
“You can see how willing they are to win football matches.
“This is a different competition, a different context and I expect a team that is going to be very ready tomorrow.” (Arsenal.com)
FC ZURICH STARTING XI
Brecher, Boranijasevic, Kamberi, Kryeziu, Aliti, Dzemaili, Selnaes, Okita, Krasniqi, Guerrero, Tosin
Arsenal subs bench
Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, White, Saliba, Zinchenko, Matt Smith, Odegaard, Cirjan, Cozier-Duberry, Saka, Jesus
The low down on Zurich
It will be the first time in their history the two sides have met, but Zurich could come with a few surprises too.
They have bounced back from relegation in 2017 to claim their 13th Swiss league title by an incredible 14-point margin.
Zurich beat Linfield and Hearts to book a spot in the Europa League after failing to beat Qarabag in Champions League qualifiers.
However, under new manager Franco Foda they are yet to taste victory in the league despite coming off of a dominant season.
ARSENAL STARTING XI
Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Lokonga, Xhaka, Vieira, Marquinhos, Martinelli, Nketiah
So seven changes from the last game.
Arsenal team news
Expect a partially rotated starting xi from the one that lost 3-1 to Manchester United on Sunday.
Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny remain sidelined which means the midfield could remain the same.
However, Mikel Arteta has been handed a fresh injury blow after Emile Smith Rowe pulled up during the warm-down at Old Trafford.
Reiss Nelson is also out with a muscle injury.
The likes of Eddie Nketiah and Fabio Vieira could come in to give Arsenal’s starters a rest ahead of their clash against Everton on Sunday.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE
Welcome to SunSports coverage of Arsenal’s trip to FC Zurich.
The Gunners are making a long-awaited return to European football after missing out entirely last season.
Following a fifth-placed Premier League finish last season, this will be Arsenal’s fifth go at lifting the Europa League – a prize they were close to in 2019 as lost in the final.
The last time Arsenal went to Switzerland saw them leave as 4-1 victors against FC Basel in 2016.
However, while Arsenal are playing FC Zurich, the game will not be held there due to staging conflicts.
Instead, the game will be held 54 miles away at St Gallen’s Kybunpark.
We hope you stick with us and enjoy tonight’s coverage.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
