With rumours still swarming across various sports news outlets and social media platforms over the future of under pressure Head Coach Unai Emery, you'd be forgiven if you forget that the games are still coming thick and fast. It's Europa League week for the Gunners as they host Eintract Frankfurt at the Emirates Stadium.
Standard Thursday evening preparations for every Arsenal fan may have been marred of late as speculation over Unai Emery's employment remains strife. However, seemingly inside the walls of the club it's business as usual as the first team hit the training field at London Colney this morning. Whether or not things are happening at board level and/or behind the scenes, there's still a job to do and our German visitors will be looking to inflict misery as their quest to qualify for the knockout stages continues.
Arsenal head into this one without Dani Ceballos, whilst there's also hamstring doubts over Sead Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin. The word is that Kolasinac trained this morning whilst the general assumption over Bellerin is that absolutely no risks will be taken with him, considering his recent knee injury. Elsewhere, Rob Holding and Bukayo Saka come back into contention as does Emile Smith-Rowe having all missed out on the matchday squad against Southampton. In net, Emi Martinez will deputise for Bernd Leno again as the now norm standard cup rotation.
In midfield and attack, it's now about the players impressing for the benefit of both themselves and the football club. Most will feel the Emirates atmosphere and the media pressure and know that there could well be light at the end of the Emery-infested tunnel so as professionals, it's about doing a job and seeing this game through. Come Sunday, there could well be a new man in charge, one with a blank canvas looking to establish his key and favourite players. The defence almost rotates itself but further forward, the absences of Ceballos and Xhaka mean the midfield options are a little thin. Even should an Ozil or a Smith-Rowe be deployed as a true number ten, the midfield base is likely to include at least one of Guendouzi or Torreira. Saka, Pepe, Nelson and Martinelli remain wide options without tapping into Aubemayng as a left sider. Up top, Martinelli is an option here as are our two first team forwards Lacazette and Aubameyang. With the pressure ramping up though, Emery could be forced into starting one of these two to ensure his side go goals up early to settle the crowd - but even that's not guaranteed these days.
Out visitors come to London knowing that a win is gold dust but even a point keeps their qualification hopes well and truly alive. A loss won't close the door either but they'll be looking to upset the odds and take of advantage of Arsenal's woeful form. They sit mid table in the German Bundesliga but do have some real talent in their ranks. Names like Andre Silva and Bas Dost headline their attack whilst Kevin Trapp in goal is a real talent. In midfield, Sebastien Rode generals their operations whilst former Swansea man Jonathan de Guzman (when fit) is creator from deep. Solid defender Erik Durm is a squad regular for the German national side and experienced Japanese international Makoto Hasebe is the glue that keeps things together at the back. However, having already dropped three points to Arsenal in the group this season in their own back yard, things (regardless of Arsenal's form) will be a little more difficult in London. The Germans don't travel overly well having only scraped a win against Vitoria in Portugal and lost against Standard in Liege.
Arsenal are the bookies' favourite but in such poor form, is it Frankfurt's time to cause an upset and shine under the north London lights?
Expected lineup:
GK: Emiliano Martinez
RB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CB: Skhodran Mustafi
CB: Rob Holding
LB: Sead Kolasinac
CM: Lucas Torreira
CM: Joe Willock
CAM: Emile Smith-Rowe
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Gabriel Martinelli
LW: Reiss Nelson
Prediction: 3-1 win to Arsenal who'll lose out on a clean sheet again.
@craigbennett10
Standard Thursday evening preparations for every Arsenal fan may have been marred of late as speculation over Unai Emery's employment remains strife. However, seemingly inside the walls of the club it's business as usual as the first team hit the training field at London Colney this morning. Whether or not things are happening at board level and/or behind the scenes, there's still a job to do and our German visitors will be looking to inflict misery as their quest to qualify for the knockout stages continues.
Arsenal head into this one without Dani Ceballos, whilst there's also hamstring doubts over Sead Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin. The word is that Kolasinac trained this morning whilst the general assumption over Bellerin is that absolutely no risks will be taken with him, considering his recent knee injury. Elsewhere, Rob Holding and Bukayo Saka come back into contention as does Emile Smith-Rowe having all missed out on the matchday squad against Southampton. In net, Emi Martinez will deputise for Bernd Leno again as the now norm standard cup rotation.
In midfield and attack, it's now about the players impressing for the benefit of both themselves and the football club. Most will feel the Emirates atmosphere and the media pressure and know that there could well be light at the end of the Emery-infested tunnel so as professionals, it's about doing a job and seeing this game through. Come Sunday, there could well be a new man in charge, one with a blank canvas looking to establish his key and favourite players. The defence almost rotates itself but further forward, the absences of Ceballos and Xhaka mean the midfield options are a little thin. Even should an Ozil or a Smith-Rowe be deployed as a true number ten, the midfield base is likely to include at least one of Guendouzi or Torreira. Saka, Pepe, Nelson and Martinelli remain wide options without tapping into Aubemayng as a left sider. Up top, Martinelli is an option here as are our two first team forwards Lacazette and Aubameyang. With the pressure ramping up though, Emery could be forced into starting one of these two to ensure his side go goals up early to settle the crowd - but even that's not guaranteed these days.
Out visitors come to London knowing that a win is gold dust but even a point keeps their qualification hopes well and truly alive. A loss won't close the door either but they'll be looking to upset the odds and take of advantage of Arsenal's woeful form. They sit mid table in the German Bundesliga but do have some real talent in their ranks. Names like Andre Silva and Bas Dost headline their attack whilst Kevin Trapp in goal is a real talent. In midfield, Sebastien Rode generals their operations whilst former Swansea man Jonathan de Guzman (when fit) is creator from deep. Solid defender Erik Durm is a squad regular for the German national side and experienced Japanese international Makoto Hasebe is the glue that keeps things together at the back. However, having already dropped three points to Arsenal in the group this season in their own back yard, things (regardless of Arsenal's form) will be a little more difficult in London. The Germans don't travel overly well having only scraped a win against Vitoria in Portugal and lost against Standard in Liege.
Arsenal are the bookies' favourite but in such poor form, is it Frankfurt's time to cause an upset and shine under the north London lights?
Expected lineup:
GK: Emiliano Martinez
RB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CB: Skhodran Mustafi
CB: Rob Holding
LB: Sead Kolasinac
CM: Lucas Torreira
CM: Joe Willock
CAM: Emile Smith-Rowe
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Gabriel Martinelli
LW: Reiss Nelson
Prediction: 3-1 win to Arsenal who'll lose out on a clean sheet again.
@craigbennett10
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