Youthful Arsenal to entertain home faithful
Under pressure Unai Emery’s Arsenal host Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday evening, a win would be enough to seal top spot in Group F for the Gunnersallowing some much-needed attention to transfer back onto the Premier Leagueform to which has been particularly appalling of late. Emery will rotate given the hosts’ comfortable position in the group and therefore giving also out of form Frankfurt a chance to push on for progression. Eighth placed domestically, Arsenal will be prioritising their trip to their Carrow Road on Sunday which is a must win encounter against relegation battling Norwich City.
Ones to Watch
Teenage sensation Gabriel Martinelli has been extremely effective in cup competitions so far this season with seven goals in five combined appearances in the Europa League and League Cup. Signed from Ituano in the summer, the winger or main striker has shaken up Emery’s wealth of youthful attacking options including getting a crucial late assist in a 2-2 draw with Southampton at the Emirates on Saturday.
Possibly in tandem with another 18-year-old Bukayo Saka as they were in the last Europa League outing should be a great experience coming up against experienced defenders like Eagles talisman Makoto Hasebe. Saka scored his first senior goal when they won 3-0 in the reverse fixture and will be looking to back that up with a positive display on Thursday evening.
Adi Hutter has had to reconstruct the 2018/19 semi-finalists front three having lost Luka Jovic, Sebastien Haller and Ante Rebic in the summer transfer window. Goncalo Paciencia has really come of age this season in their absence, a recent Portugalinternational who joined from Porto in the summer of 2018, the 25-year-old has been involved in eight goals from 12 appearances in the Bundesliga.
Poor runs
Since sealing former gaffer Niko Kovac’s fate by beating Bayern Munich5-1 at home, the Eagles have lost three on the trot and need a pickup in form having slid down to 10th position. However, European football will be a priority considering how successful they were last time around, the same cannot be said for the Gunners.
Arsenal have only won once in the league since September, heaping the scrutiny on Emery whose only saving grace could be replicating his remarkable Europa League record to lead the North Londoners to Champions League qualification this term. The Spaniard won the competitions thrice on the bounce with Sevilla and the same feat could be his only way to rebuild his reputation with the fans at this alarming rate.
Both sides have been poor defensively of late and rotation could lead to this being exaggerated. Arsenal’s backup attacking contingent are good enough to cause all kinds of problems for the German side.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
A mixture of Arsenal reserves and first team players lost 2-1 to Frankfurt to heap further pressure on Unai Emery.