The idea that “politics and sports don’t mix” has always been a misnomer, but that point has been really hammered home this week with the Arsenal at FC Vorskla UEFA Europa League fixture.
The match was originally supposed to be played in the city of Poltava, but it was instead moved to Kiev as the Ukraine has now imposed martial law in certain parts of the nation. UEFA decided to move the match due to “security concerns,” after the Ukrainian navy said six of their sailors were wounded when the Russian coast guard opened fire on three ships off the coast of Crimea and then seized the vessels.
An international crisis such as this really puts sport in perspective, but the show must go on and the game must be played so let’s take a look at the squad Arsenal will be traveling to Kiev.
Arsenal manager Unai Emery has six players with fitness concerns, but this match in which he was expected to rotate his squad anyway. He’ll rest some of his regulars here, in order to have them fresh for bigger fixtures in league play that will be here on the schedule in the near future.
In looking at the injury list, striker Alexandre Lacazette is a doubt due to a groin injury, as is defender Stephan Lichtsteiner due to a hamstring problem.
Defenders Nacho Monreal (hamstring) and Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin) are out of commission for this one. Likewise for defender Laurent Koscielny (Achilles) and forward Danny Welbeck (ankle).
That said, the Gunners should still have no problems pulling out a victory here as their UEL form has been dominant all season long.
Arsenal vs FC Vorskla FYIs
Arsenal FC Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Kickoff: Thursday, November 29, 555 pm GMT, Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev
Odds via Odds Checker: Arsenal 19/20 Draw 13/5 FC Vorskla 17/4
Prediction: Arsenal 2, FC Vorskla 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.