Arsenal vs Ostersunds FK preview: Eddie Nketiah to feature?

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger attends a press conference at London Colney on September 23, 2016 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal welcome Swedish outfit, Ostersunds FK to the Emirates Stadium tonight in the second leg of their Round of 32 Europa League clash.

The Gunners are looking to protect a 3-0 lead from the first leg in Sweden and progress to the next round of the competition. A number of first team players will be rested for the game, as the Gunners prepare for the League Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday.

Manager, Arsene Wenger has stated that January signing, Henrikh Mkhitaryan will start the game due to the fact he is cup-tied for the Wembley showpiece as he featured for Manchester United in the competition earlier in the season.

Team News

Mesut Ozil will miss the game due to illness. The German was exceptional in the first leg of the encounter, though he should he should be fit for Sunday. Welsh midfielder, Aaron Ramsey is still recovering from a groin injury, though he trained with his teammates on Wednesday. The midfielder will not be in the squad, according to Wenger but will be monitored ahead of Sunday.

Under fire star, Alexandre Lacazette (knee) definitely miss out despite reports suggesting that he is ahead of schedule in his return from injury while Wenger has confirmed David Ospina will continue in-goal and Mkhitaryan – who is cup tied against City – and Danny Welbeck will start.

Statistics 

The Gunners have won their previous two home European matches against Swedish opposition, beating IFK Göteborg in March 1980 and AIK in September 1999

No Swedish side has won an away European match in England since Östers IF beat Spurs in the 1995 Intertoto Cup (P6 W0 D2 L4 since)

In European competition, Arsenal have been eliminated from just one of their previous six knockout ties in which they’ve won the first leg, losing on aggregate to Barcelona in the Last 16 of the 2010/11 Champions League

At the Emirates, the Gunners have lost just one of their last 27 matches, winning 22 and drawing four since a 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich last March

Only five English managers have won at The Emirates in all competitions (Alan Curbishley, Phil Brown, Harry Redknapp, Michael Appleton and Garry Monk).

The likes of Eddie Nketiah, Alex Iwobi and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are all expected to feature in this clash against Graham Potter’s team. The game kicks off at 8:05 GMT

Prediction: Arsenal to win 2-0

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