Well, here we are in what seems like Deja-vu territory, with another MUST win match, in another make or break for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s season. Having overcome the last two knockout rounds against Olympiacos and Benfica, the reward was, on paper at least and easier route to a potential final show down with Man United. However, before this mouth-watering prospect, there are two not insignificant hurdles to overcome.
First Arteta needs to navigate a route past a tricky away leg against Slavia Prague, before he can consider the possibility of a Semi-Final with his predecessor, Unai Emery, now in charge at Villareal. A man who did take Arsenal to a Europa League Final himself. Certainly, the bookies feel Emery’s new team will progress having taken a slender 1-nil leader away at Dynamo Zagreb. Arsenal’s Europa League odds will have drifted after they allowed a late advantage to slip last week at the Emirates, with the 1-1 draw affording Prague that precious away goal.
Potential to meet in Semi
However, Slavia had offered little attacking threat and their goal was down to an Arsenal error, rather then any inventive play. The Gunners too has been woeful in front of goal, having carved out several good openings. Admittedly the Czech Champions have a formidable home record in all competitions, but I am still confident that if Arsenal play as well as we can and Arteta gets his team selection right the Gunners can win in the Czech Capital.
The selection dilemmas for Arsenal’s under pressure coach have been increased in one sense, with the lack of form show by his skipper and usual go to striker, Aubameyang, but eased in another, as injuries are lessening his options. Reports suggest that Saka and Martinelli, both who suffered knocks in the away win at Sheffield United, having both played well, are likely to be fit for the Europa League clash.
Both hopefully fit
If this proves to be the case I hope both are asked to replicate their roles from the weekend. Saka played at 10, with Odegaard and Smith Rowe injured and was quite superb – No end to the boy’s talents. Martinelli’s played on the left of the attack and was favoured there over Aubameyang and Willian and I hope he gets the nod once more. I see this as a critical selection as Slavia’s Senegalese right winger, Abdallah Sima is a major threat and has 15 goals and 6 assists to his name all competitions. With Tierney, Arsenal’s left back out for weeks, whether Arteta selects Cedric or Xhaka to fill in, they will need support from their winger, and I trust the young Brazilian in that department over Aubameyang of Willian.
I suspect Arteta will primarily stick with the team that was so fluent against an admittedly week Sheffield United, with the big call being between Lacazette or Aubameyang as the central selection. The Frenchman is the man in possession and after two goals and a strong all-round display on Sunday, would be aggrieved to be left out. That said we have seen the manager turn to his captain for the biggest matches generally.
One or the other, not both
There are three other decisions are the left back one and I believe he will want more pace and select Cedric and restore Xhaka alongside Partey in the heart of midfield. He needs to therefore decide between Bellerin and Chambers at right back, and the Spaniard seems to be reserved for the Europa League at present. Lastly, he will be contemplating which of his left footed centre backs will partner Rob Holding and I really cannot call that decision.
The odds have Arsenal still as second favourites to Man United, so obviously believe we can complete the job on Thursday and triumph over Villareal of Dinamo Zagreb. Let’s hope they have it right.
Passionate fifty-something Arsenal supporter who has been making the journey to N5 regularly since the early 1980s – although his first game was in 1976. Always passionate when talking about The Arsenal, Dave decided to send a guest blog to Gunnersphere in the summer of 2011 and has not stopped writing about the Gunners since.
He set up his own site – 1 Nil Down 2 One Up – in February 2012, which he moved on in 2016 to concentrate on freelance writing and building Gunners Town, which he launched with Paul in 2014.
The objective of GT was to be new and fresh and to give a platform for likeminded passionate Arsenal fans wishing to write about their team. Dave still of course, writes for the site himself and advises the ever-changing writing crew.
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