Arsenal welcome Slavia Prague to Emirates Stadium in first leg of their Quarter Final tie in 2020-21 UEFA Europa League.
This match is Arsenal’s first meeting against Slavia Prague since November 2007 in the Group Stage of 2007-08 Champions League season.
Team News
Kieran Tierney is a doubt for Arsenal after suffering a knee injury during Saturday’s Premier League loss to Liverpool.
Emile Smith Rowe (quad), Granit Xhaka (illness) and Bukayo Saka (hamstring) are doubts but David Luiz (knee) is ruled out.
Slavia Prague could be without Ondrej Kolar who is travelling despite suffering a skull fracture in their controversial away win at Rangers in the Round of 16 last month.
Ondrej Kudela (nose), Simon Deli (Coronavirus) and David Hovorka (unspecified) are ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal are unbeaten in two previous meetings against Slavia Prague (W1, D1).
- Slavia Prague lost their only previous away trip to Arsenal, losing 7-0 in October 2007 in Group Stage of 2007-08 Champions League.
- Arsenal have never lost to Czech opposition in eight previous meetings across all UEFA competitions (W7, D1).
- Slavia Prague have won just one of six away trips against English opposition, defeating Leicester in Round of 32 this season (W1, D1, L4).
- Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have kept just one clean sheet in four ‘home’ matches actually held at Emirates Stadium in this season’s Europa League, having played their ‘home leg’ of Last 32 tie in Greece due to travel restrictions.
Prediction
Mikel Arteta will be keen to see a reaction from his Arsenal players after Saturday’s passive defeat to Liverpool, despite defending well throughout the first half before caving in with a lethargic defensive effort in second half and offered little on the attack.
Slavia Prague meanwhile come into this game buoyed by a sudden upturn in away fortunes on British soil with clinical hard-working wins over Leicester and Rangers in the last two rounds, although this will be their toughest test yet.
Arsenal however do really need to win this competition if want to play in Europe next season, so I expect them to come out with a fighting display but if Slavia can match their effort with a strong defensive display and force an away goal then the second leg could well be tasty.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Slavia Prague
Result: Arsenal 1-1 Slavia Prague