After losing in the FA Cup a few weeks ago, the Gunners have a rare weekend off to come so with rest on the horizon, Head Coach Unai Emery has picked an almost full strength squad to travel to Belarus. Gone are the days of five or six youngsters on the Europa League bench...this is now the knockout stages, and Emery will be keen to continue his personal love affair with the competition. This is now the only realistic route into next season's Champions League.
The aim of the game, judging by the travelling party, is to get the tie over and done with early. With games to come rapidly from now until the end of the season, the only real foreseeable rest is this weekend, perfectly timed for a big surge against BATE. But with no Aaron Ramsey or Mesut Ozil in the squad, creativity could be hard to come by. Henrikh Mkhitaryan returned last time out against Huddersfield and looked good in patches, certainly going forward. The other flank was occupied by the ever-inconsistent Alex Iwobi who also looked bright at times. Alongside these two, Denis Suarez is the only other attacking midfielder Emery could look to in order to get the creative juices flowing. In what is a likely two up top, creativity from midfield us essential to get this tie done. Our forwards will score should sufficient chances come their way.
As cup keeper, Petr Cech is likely to start between the sticks, whilst its expected a flat back four will be the order of the day. Maitland-Niles and Kolasinac are favourites for the full back roles and neither should have too trouble going back towards their own goal. This, in theory, should allow both to express their natural forward-thinking traits in supporting our attacking play. Kolasinac especially, has become an integral part of Arsenal's attacking routes to goal as he often holds the key to opening up a tight opposition by going beyond the lines picking up on many a through ball. In midfield, again with the rest ahead and with Xhaka having seen little football over the last two weeks, Guendouzi and Torreira should start in the centre. In what could actually be a diamond, with Torreira holding, Guendouzi and Suarez in the more dynamic diamond edge roles, headed my Mkhitaryan or Iwobi, Aubameyang and Lacazette upfront should see plenty of the ball. The Gunners are expected to dominate possession, even away from home. The Belarusians are a fiesty team and usually boss their domestic league year-on-year but they rarely manage to impose themselves on any real European opposition. This in effect makes Arsenal favourites, and away from home looking to get the job done early, it could be a cracking start. With Aubameyang having sat out a few days through sickness though, the alternative for Emery is to go for one upfront with an attacking trio behind. Iwobi, Mhkitaryan and Suarez could be quite the combination if Emery decides to go this route.
Former Arsenal man, Alexander Hleb, even at 37, is among the BATE ranks and will be keen to play some part in the game. With no real standout superstars though, the hosts are very workmanlike and will run Arsenal hard. The Gunners' footballing ability is likely to overwhelm the hosts but make no mistake, in their own back yard, with fans on side, Emery's men will find it tough. Coming through a group with run away leaders Chelsea, BATE were the best of the rest advancing with nine points from six games. In Belarus, Chelsea only managed a one-nil win and although they won 3-1 in the reverse tie, our defence isn't as capable of a clean sheet as Chelsea's was back in late 2018. We have proved that time after time with shaky and unsure defending. Hopefully a solid back four, made up of senior experienced professionals can get a clean sheet here. The Belarusians will be hopeful of an Arsenal mistake or two.
Expected lineup:
GK: Petr Cech
RB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CB: Shkodran Mustafi
CB: Laurent Koscielny
LB: Sead Kolasinac
CDM: Lucas Torreira
CM: Matteo Guendouzi
CM Denis Suarez
CAM: Henrikh Mkhitaryan
ST: Alex Lacazette
ST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: 2-0 with Lacazette grabbing a goal or two.
@craigbennett10
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