Vorskla vs Arsenal Preview | Emery’s Fitness Boost | Expected Line-Up’s | Prediction

Arsenal will be looking to secure top spot in Europa League Group E when we take on FC Vorskla in Kiev this evening [5.55pm kick-off].

Qualification to the knockout stages of the competition was ensured with a drab 0-0 draw with Sporting Lisbon earlier this month but we can guarantee progression as group winners if we beat third-placed Vorskla this evening.

There were doubts the game would even go ahead after Vorskla suggested they may not be able to fulfill the fixture after the match was switched to Kiev due to safety concerns, however, UEFA have confirmed the game will go ahead as planned.

We warmed up for the match with a hard fought 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon which has extended our unbeaten record to 17 games in all competitions so Unai Emery will be keen to protect that run today.

Team news

Arsenal have been handed a boost as Stephan Lichtsteiner is available again after recovering from a hamstring injury so the Swiss international should start at right-back in place of the rested Hector Bellerin.

Laurent Koscielny made his long-awaited comeback with a run out for the U23s earlier this week but he won’t be involved this evening and remains out along with Danny Welbeck and Nacho Monreal.

Alexandre Lacazette is back in full training after recovering from a minor groin injury that kept him out of the Bournemouth game but he’s not been risked against Vorskla today.

The likes of Sokratis, Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac, Lucas Torreira, Granit Xhaka, Alex Iwobi, Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have all been left in London to prepare for Sunday’s clash with Tottenham.

Emile Smith Rowe, Carl Jenkinson, Eddie Nketiah and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are all expected to start while youngsters Joe Willock, Charlie Gilmour, Tyreece John-Jules, Zech Medley, Bukayo Saka, Dominic Thompson and Jordi Osei-Tutu are battling for places on the bench.

Expected Line-Up

Vorskla XI: Shust; Perduta, Chesnakov, Chizhov, Sakiv; Sapai, Sklyar, Sharpar, Artur; Kulach; Kolomoets

Predicted Score

Vorskla 1-2 Arsenal: We eased to a 4-2 victory in the reverse fixture with Vorskla scoring two late stunners to take the gloss off the scoreline but tonight should be a much tougher game in freezing conditions. We’ve lost four of our last five visits to the Ukraine but they’ve all been in the Champions League against better quality opposition than Vorskla. We will have a team mixed with youth and experience on show but I think we should have too much quality in the end and am backing the boys to bring home a 2-1 win.