By Bulldog Drummond
Of course we don’t know every club that will go through after tonight, but we’ve got an idea of some of the teams that will be appearing in the knock out stages of the Europa next year, alongside Arsenal
In terms of the seeded teams, Arsenal are of course one of them, the others being Red Bull Salzburg, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Dinamo Zagreg, Chelsea, Dynamo Kyiv and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Runners up already decided at Fenerbahce, Sporting Lisbon, and Lazio.
Others going through already known are Bayer Leverkusen, Zurich, Real Betis, plus a group of teams from the Champions League. These include Napoli, Inter, Club Brugge, Valencia, Galatasaray, Benfica.
As a seeded team, Arsenal will not only get a favourable draw in the first knockout round, but also will play the second leg at home – always a slight advantage. The first match in the next round will be played on February 14 and 21, and the second leg on March 7 and 14.
As the tournament goes on the chances of the youngsters getting picked gets reduced, but there is no doubt that with this competition as with the League Cup some have taken their chances to show just what they can do.
The latest news doing the rounds is the Emile Smith Rowe has been injured in training and won’t play. And we now have the confirmed list of younger players who trained ahead of this game with the first team…
The list is pretty much as expected including Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock, Zech Medley, Charlie Gilmour, Tyreece John-Jules, Bukayo Saka and Dominic Thompson.
The Mirror has come up with a line up which leaves Ozil on the bench.
Leno,
Lichtsteiner, Koscielny, Medley, Maitland-Niles,
Guendouzi, Elneny,
Willock, Ramsey, Saka,
Nketiah.
I doubt that Leno will play. Mind you the Daily Mirror is also running a piece with a blistering headline about revealing all of Arsenal’s transfer plans for the January window, which appear to be based exclusively on this from the manager:
“I think if we can take one player to help us at centre-back, I think it’s a good option.”
Red London is one of a number of sites saying that Ramsey is indeed fit and ready to play which if so probably means he will miss the Southampton game but then play against Tottenham in the league cup.
And just to round it all off, here is the Express’ version of the line up tonight…
Cech
Lichsteiner Sokratis Koscielny Maitland-Niles
Guendouzi Elneny
Mkhitaryan Ozil Willock
Eddie
And don’t forget the Predictions site which is looking forward to next weekend’s games.
Here are the earlier articles on tonight’s game…
- Arsenal’s team tonight, Tony Adams new job, a misleading newspaper…
- Arsenal v the Qs. Early thoughts on who’s in the team, and some of the records
- Arsenal v Qarbag: we’re lucky we only play them twice
I think Emery should give Eddie Nkethia a starting role to lead the line for Arsenal against Qarabag F tonight at the Ems in the Europa. So that the young Eddie who regularly scores for the Arsenal U23 team can be assessed after starting a competitive Europa League match to see if he can break in into the Arsenal first team starting XI to replace Welbeck as a first team substitute or a starter and save the club from spending in Jan window to sign a top quality striker as a 3rd striker option to replace the injured Welbeck with him for Arsenal 2nd half of the season’s campaign.
And to me, Arsenal who still have 9 defenders in place to conclude the remaining part of the 1st half of this season and for the 2nd half of the season’s campaign does not need in my own opinion to sign another defender in the Jan window despite the season ending injury to Rob Holding their 10th defender. For, Koscielny who is reported will be back for Arsenal against Qarabag FK tonight at the Ems in the Europa, and the soon will be back for Arsenal in January, Mavropanos are 2 centrebacks who can compensate to fill the gap ruthlessly left behind by Rob Holding.
I am believing Emery who is a seasoned top coach knows how he should manage the Gunners properly in terms of starting a match or give a Gunner or Gunners the chance to make an appearance in it. So he doesn’t need to be taught of what to do. But he’s been saying “we are learning to improve” I should think. And if so, he can still be advised to take it or leave it.
In this wise, under normal circumstances at the Gunners, tonight Arsenal 18 for Qarabag are likely to mostly comprised of Arsenal U23 team players and a few on the fringes at Arsenal Gunners including one match ban Gunners and a regular senior team starter are looking could get included in the 18 for the match by Emery according to my own18 submission for the match. To thus leave out nearly all the senior team regular match starting XI Gunners for Southampton but one whom I’ve started and 2 that I have on the bench to come in into the match in the 2nd half so as to get match sharpened ahead of the important Arsenal match in the PL on Sunday away to the Saints.
My Arsenal 3-5-2 starts and the 7 Gunners I have on the bench I am thinking Emery could use for the match to get a good solid home win over Qarabag FK are below.
Starts:
Cech;
Lichtsteiner Koscielny Jenkinson; Willock AMN Elneny Gilmour Saka;
john-Jules Nkethia.
Bench:
Martinez Sokratis Medley Thompson Ramsey Ozil Lacazette.
SAA – you are so good that I think your services are needed in FIFA and the United Nations; so apply & maybe we can have some peace on here.
Mostly cut and pasted.
Menace..The gift that keeps on giving..The special one.If you detest our premier league and think the competition and its officials are all bent why dont you do one and offer your services to the indian football league.
Of fools and investments-
A boss had hired a sexy secretary.
10 days later the Boss committed suicide by jumping from his 27th floor office…….
Police:” Who was there at that time in the room?”
Secretary:” I was there.”
Police:” What happened? Why did he commit suicide?”
Secretary:” He was a good man. One day he bought me a fur coat for $20,000, then he bought me a diamond necklace for $150,000; then he bought me a diamond ring for $50,000.
Today he asked me to spend the night with him.
I told him I charge $100 a night….and he just went to the window and jumped!”
Moral: Investments are subject to market risk, check the market rate before investing..!
Why is Menace allowed to get away with insulting multiple people on here? Samuel clearly puts a lot of thought into his comments, so why you feel it is necessary to belittle his contributions and say that this website would be better off without him is just plain bullying, as this is something that Menace often does when replying to SAA.
Menace has free reign to say what he wants on this website.Tony and walter turn a blind to it all even though over the years he has abused a lot of posters especially those who dont agree with him.I wouldnt mind but all he talks is drivvel and hasnt got a clue about football or the laws of the game.
Apologies to SAA & all for being tactless. I do get a little tired of the double posting.
nick unfortunately I’m British and like you have the freedom to knock anything within reason including the PGMOL who are a select bunch of fellows that obviously please you with their officiating.