When is it?
Thursday 2nd November, at the Emirates stadium. Kick-off is 8.05pm.
How can I watch it?
The match will be televised live on BT Sport 2, BT Sport 2 HD and BT Sport 4K UHD, with coverage from 8pm. BT Sport subscribers can watch the match on the enhanced video player on BTSport.com or via the BT Sport app.
Arsenal
Can qualify for the last 32 with a win, and have generally had a pretty strong and stable – no, not a pun, honest – start to the season, especially since that long forgotten 4-0 thumping at Anfield that feels like an awful long time ago. They made hard work of their 2-1 win against Swansea, but the result was far more important than the performance to put a positive note on a week which had seen yet another angry AGM meeting which saw several protests.
Red Star
Gave Arsenal an awful lot to think about when they lost 1-0 in the reverse fixture and they have bounced back quickly with three straight wins against Madlost Lucani, FK Spartak Subotica and also Zemun. The last two of them were 1-0 wins that came via the boot of Richmond Boakeye, the Ghanaian hotshot who was a persistent problem for the Gunners two weeks ago. That game did end 1-0 but it was a very tight encounter and Red Star will be frustrated that they did not manage to score at least once against the Gunners when they had the pressure on.
Head to Head
The two met for the first time since 1978-79 when they clashed in the reverse fixture, which was far more open and entertaining than the 1-0 scoreline suggested. Olivier Giroud’s superbly worked Bicycle kick proved to be the difference between the two then.
Team News:
Arsenal
The Gunners have to visit Manchester City on Sunday and Tottenham the week after, so changes will undoubtedly be made. defender Sead Kolasinac has already been ruled out with an injury whilst Wenger can’t call upon Santi Cazorla (Achilles), Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring), Danny Welbeck and David Ospina (both groin) will play no part.
Wenger has also had plenty of success in this competition already with a much-changed side, including their return to full fitness and form of Jack Wilshere in midfield amongst others.
Red Star
Right-back Milan Rodic was suspended after getting two yellow cards a couple of weeks ago and can expect to be replaced by Srdjan Babic but there shouldn’t be too many changes from the visitors.
Predicted XI’s
Arsenal XI: Cech; Debuchy, Chambers, Holding; Nelson, Coquelin, Elneny, Maitland-Niles; Walcott, Wilshere; Giroud
Red Star Belgrade XI: Borjan; Stojkovic, Savic, Le Tallec, Babic; Srnic, Kanga, Donald, Krsticic, Radonjic; Boakye
Prediction:
2-1 Arsenal.
Wenger’s men have enough in the tank to get the job done but Red Star were a tough outfit and they will be frustrated they didn’t get more out of the other fixture.