Cologne v Arsenal | Latest Team News | Line-Up’s | Prediction | Betting

Arsenal will look to secure top spot in their Europa League group when we take on Cologne in Germany this evening.

We warmed up for the game in perfect fashion after winning the North London Derby with an impressive 2-0 victory over Tottenham at the Emirates last Saturday.

However, the focus must shift to European matters tonight as we go searching for a win over Cologne that would guarantee we progress to the last-32 of the competition as Group H winners.

We’ve already booked our place in the knockout stages with a 0-0 draw against Red Star Belgrade earlier this month which took us to 10 points from our four games but Arsene Wenger will want to secure top spot.

Cologne are bottom of the group and also sit bottom of the Bundesliga table having not won a game all season but they did show in the reverse fixture that they can be a threat after taking the lead before we eased to a 3-1 win.

Team news

Wenger is going to heavily rotate his starting eleven once again with all of our key men expected to be rested ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Burnley.

Theo Walcott hasn’t travelled to Germany as he’s still ill but Olivier Giroud is back in contention after recovering from a thigh injury that kept him out of the Spurs game.

David Ospina is also back after overcoming a groin injury while Danny Welbeck should come in to the starting eleven after being an unused substitute at the weekend having recovered from his own groin problem.

The likes of Per Mertesacker, Rob Holding, Calum Chambers, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny and Jack Wilshere are all set to feature while youngsters Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles should get another chance to impress.

Expected Line-Ups

Predicted Score

Cologne 1-2 Arsenal: We don’t have a great recent record in Germany but that’s mostly down to having to play Bayern every year! Cologne have been woeful for much of the season and despite making wholesale changes, Arsenal are still able to field a decent side. The atmosphere should be electric but hopefully that will bring the best out of the players. I’m backing us to edge it 2-1.

Betting Tips

Arsenal are the 13/8 favourites to win this game with the bookmakers but we can get new customers enhanced odds of 30/1 on the Gunners – just click here to take advantage of these incredible odds [winning paid in free bets, max stake £1, T&C’s apply].

• Both teams to score at: 4/6 – a £10 bet would return £16.60
• Exact score of 2-1 Arsenal at: 17/2 – a £10 bet would return £95
• Giroud to score first in a 2-1 Arsenal win at: 22/1 – a £10 bet would return £230