Arsenal welcome Rapid Wien to the Emirates Stadium in Group B of 2020-21 UEFA Europa League.
Victory will see Arsenal top Group B whilst a win will boost Rapid Vienna’s qualification hopes if they can better Molde’s result at Dundalk – who are already eliminated from the competition.
Team News
Sead Kolasinac is available for Arsenal after recovering from Coronavirus and returning two negative tests in the build-up to this match.
Nicholas Pepe will feature because his suspension only applies to domestic matches but Thomas Partey (thigh), David Luiz (concussion), Gabriel Martinelli (knee), Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari (both fitness) remain absent.
Rapid Wien will be without Dejan Petrovic and Dejan Ljubicic as the pair continue their recoveries from unspecified injuries.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal won their only previous meeting against Rapid Wien, beating the Austrian opposition 2-1 in Vienna in their opening Group B clash in October.
- Rapid Wien have won just one of four previous away trips against English opposition across all UEFA competitions (W1, L3).
- Arsenal’s Nicholas Pepe has scored three goals in four Europa League appearances this season, with all three goals coming after half-time.
Prediction
Arsenal might be coming into this match low on confidence after a dip in form but in the Europa League this season, their performances have been remarkably better than domestic competitions so the key is to try and build some momentum here which they can use to physiologically boost them heading into Sunday’s North London derby at Tottenham.
Rapid Wien meanwhile haven’t produced any spectacular performances in their away trips but have proven to be tricky opposition so Arsenal might well have their work cut out here if want a win, although England seems to be the Austrian team’s bogey ground which surely points to a home win.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Rapid Wien
Result: Arsenal 4-1 Rapid Wien