Europa League Gameweek 16
Feb 21, 2019 5.55pm
3
0
HT : 2 0
FT
  • Zakhar Volkov 4' goal
  • Shkodran Mustafi 39' goal
  • Sokratis 60' goal

How Arsenal could line up against BATE Borisov

How Arsenal could line up against BATE

Arsenal head into Thursday's Europa League fixture with BATE Borisov needing to overcome a deficit in order to reach the last 16 of the competition.

The Gunners had been expected to go into the second leg at the Emirates Stadium holding an advantage, but Unai Emery witnessed his side suffer a 1-0 defeat in Belarus last week.

Arsenal will have had a week off when they take to the pitch on Thursday evening, but Emery will acknowledge that his players are under pressure to perform as they look to improve their chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Emery has a number of selection dilemmas ahead of this match, and here Sports Mole looks at how the Premier League club could line up against the Belarusian champions.


Out: Hector Bellerin (knee), Rob Holding (knee), Danny Welbeck (ankle), Alexandre Lacazette (suspension) Doubtful: Sokratis Papastathopoulos (ankle), Aaron Ramsey (knee)

> Click here for the latest Arsenal injury and suspension news

Arsenal will be without Alexandre Lacazette after the forward received a red card in the first leg, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be recalled to the team as his replacement.

Mesut Ozil is only likely to be named on the bench at best with the playmaker currently out of favour with Emery, and the same could apply to Aaron Ramsey who has been carrying a knee problem.

That could allow Denis Suarez to make his first start for Arsenal since joining on loan from Barcelona, while Lucas Torreira may get the nod over Matteo Guendouzi in midfield.

Emery could potentially opt to revert to a back four on Thursday night, and that may leave Nacho Monreal having to settle for a place among the replacements.

Bernd Leno may be preferred to Petr Cech between the sticks, with the latter having not produced a convincing performance in last week's first leg.

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POLL
Who will win Thursday's Europa League clash between Arsenal and BATE Borisov?
Arsenal 91%
Draw 5%
BATE Borisov 5%
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