Arsenal FC enter their UEFA Europa League group stage finale having already topped the grouping, and thus without anything at all to play for. The only exception would be the Gunners fringe players, who will get a rare opportunity to play and potentially impress manager Unai Emery into giving them a chance to play in a future match that has more meaning.
Arsenal welcomes Qarabag FK to north London, and with just three points accumulated from group play, the Azerbaijani side is dead last in the standings and eliminated from Europe. Thus provides the perfect opportunity for Emery to rotate his squad, and keep his first team guys fresh for the major workload that is ahead the rest of this month and next.
Let’s take a look at who could start for the Gunners in this one.
Mesut Ozil is now available to return, having missed the last four matches due to a back spasms problem. He’s now confirmed as fit to play having resumed full training. Emery said that the 30-year-old German will be in the squad failed to divulge in what capacity.
Emery also confirmed that Laurent Koscielny will make his first start since May, when he suffered a devastating Achilles injury.
Meanwhile Aaron Ramsey (ankle) was absent from Saturday’s late 1-0 win over Huddersfield Town, but he’s now officially back in contention for this one. Ramsey has been in very fine form and a really key contributor (when given the opportunity) this season.
Our prediction is that Ozil, Ramsey and Koscielny will all start, and exit early.
The Bank Arsenal FC Starting XI Prediction (4-3-3) vs Qarabag FK
Attacking Players: Emile Smith-Rowe, Mesut Ozil, Alex Iwobi
Central Midfielders: Aaron Ramsey, Matteo Guendouzi, Mohamed Elneny
Defenders: Ashley Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Laurent Koscielny, Carl Jenkinson
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
Arsenal FC vs Qarabag FK FYIs
Kick-off: 555pm (BST), Thursday December 13th, Emirates Stadium, London
Odds via Betfair: Chelsea FC 1/4, Draw 6/1, Qarabag 14/1
Odds Checker Arsenal odds to win UEL Tournament: 13/2 (second most favorable of any team in the field)
Prediction: Arsenal 2, Qarabag 0
Feel free to post your own starting XI predictions, as well as your best guess as to what the final score will be. Enjoy the match everybody!
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 Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.