Arsenal Visit Cologne Needing Just A Point To Top Europa League Group

Arsenal Visit Cologne Needing Just A Point To Top Europa League Group
09:18, 23 Nov 2017

When is it and how do I watch?

Thursday 23 November in Cologne at the RheinEnergieSTADION and kick-off is at 6pm.

The game will be shown live on BT Sport 2, with coverage starting at 5.30pm. You can also watch via the BT Sport app.

Arsenal

The Gunners will be coming here on cloud nine, having completely dominated rivals Spurs on the weekend to silence many prominent critics. We saw the very best of Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi, who won their battles with Harry Kane and the latter managed to produce the sort of performance that fans had hoped to see when the German arrived to join the Gunners.

Hector Bellerin was a nightmare for Jan Vertonghen, constantly making runs in behind, and we saw the best of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez who linked beautifully with Alexandre Lazacette.

These big names are likely to be rested, with Arsenal through already and needing just a point to make it through top of the group. Expect to see young players get blooded extensively once again.

Cologne

The Germans are struggling. They could go out tonight if Red Star Belgrade win at Bate Borisov in Group H's other fixture, they will need to win. Taking just two points in their opening 12 league games of the season means they are at the foot bottom of the Bundesliga, including two defeats to nil in the last fortnight against Hoffenheim (3-0) and Mainz (1-0).

Head to head

Not much to see here of relevance. The Gunners lost 1-0 at Köln in 1971 in their only past meeting.

Team News 

Arsenal

Arsenal will ring the changes. The most interesting player is set to be Danny Welbeck, who has been missing with a groin injury since October's Premier League defeat at Watford. He could partner with Oliver Giroud, who missed the North London Derby. In terms of youth prospects, it would be a surprise if Reiss Nelson does not to get another start and Alex Iwobi scored two for Nigeria recently in a fine win over Argentina.

Cologne

Vice-captain Jonas Hector is missing thanks to a knee injury and their weekend defeat at Mainz saw attacking midfielder Simon Zoller injure his thigh.

Expected Lineups

Cologne: Horn; Klunter, Maroh, Sorensen, Rausch; Jojic, Lehmann, Clemens, Bittencourt; Cordoba, Guirassy

Arsenal: Ospina; Debuchy, Mertesacker, Holding; Nelson, Elneny, Coquelin, Maitland-Niles; Wilshere, Welbeck, Giroud

Prediction

 A draw might be enough for Arsenal and their much-changed side. 1-1. 

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