Arsenal v Cologne Match Preview: Recent Form, Key Battle, Team News & More
Arsene
Wenger’s Arsenal will make their debut in the Europa League this week, hosting
Cologne in Group H at the Emirates Stadium.
Following
a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, the Gunners are playing in Europe’s
secondary competition for the first time since their run to the UEFA Cup final
in 2000 – where they lost on penalties to Turkish giants Galatasaray.
The
Gunners gaffer is keen to take this competition seriously, but is expected to
make a host of changes against a side who have not taken a single point from
their opening three Bundesliga matches this season.
Meeting
for the first time in UEFA competition, in their first appearance in the UEFA
Europa League, means it’ll be a night of firsts at the Emirates.
Recent Form
Arsenal
got their season back on tract last Saturday, beating Bournemouth 3-0 at home
comfortable, with a brace from Danny Welbeck and a goal from Alexandre
Lacazette securing three points following two away losses before the
international break.
For
the German side, Cologne have had a poor start to their campaign, losing all
three of their matches so far including a very disappointing 3-0 defeat away at
Augsburg.
It
is worth nothing that the Gunners have lost five of their last seven home
matches to German opposition, though the Bundesliga giants are yet to win in
England after five away encounters.
Key Battle
Olivier Giroud vs Frederik Sorensen
& Dominique Heinz
With
Alexandre Lacazette expected to be dropped so he can participate for the
Gunners at the weekend against Chelsea, fellow striker Olivier Giroud is
expected to start on Thursday, with attacking midfielders Theo Walcott and Alex
Iwobi also potentially stepping in to support him.
His
compatriot will see this game, and this competition, as a huge opportunity to
get some minutes on the pitch and some goals as Giroud plays second fiddle to
Lacazette.
Giroud
will come up against a centre-back pairing yet to keep a clean sheet so far
this campaign, having already conceded seven goals in three games. With Alexis
Sanchez also likely to start, the Frenchman will be keen to lead his side to
victory in Matchday One.
Team News
Arsene
Wenger is said to be looking to rotate policy for this competition, starting
right at the back, where David Ospina is expected to replace Petr Cech.
Ahead
of him, they may well be chances for Reiss Nelson and Per Mertesacker – Laurent
Koscielny is suspended after his sending off in the last 16 tie against Bayern
Munich in the Champions League last season.
The
huge update for the Gunners is perhaps that Jack Wilshere is ready for his
first start of the season in the centre of the park, alongside Elneny. We could
also see the inclusion of Sanchez, Walcott and Iwobi.
For
Cologne, the German sides are expected to remain unchanged for their
long-awaited return to European football.
Potential
Arsenal Starting Line-up: Ospina; Nelson, Holding, Mertesacker, Monreal,
Kolasnic; Elneny, Wilshere; Iwobi, Walcott; Giroud
Potential
Cologne Starting Line-up: Horn; Klunter, Sorensen, Heintz, Hector; Zoller,
Lehmann, Hoger, Bittencourt; Osako, Cordoba
Prediction
Arsene
Wenger’s side are well-known for their habit of beating weak team at the
Emirates, and in the form the Bundesliga giants have started this campaign, a
comfortable win for the Gunners is expected.
F/W’s Prediction: Arsenal 3-0
Cologne
Written by Ojo
Olayiwola A and edited by Bertrand Francois
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