For Arsenal, it’s looking like the best, and perhaps maybe the only, route back into the UEFA Champions League is via the Europa League title. The Gunners are just two points behind Chelsea for fourth place in the Premier League, but they no longer control their own destiny when it comes to finishing in the top four.
In European competition though, it’s a different story. The Gunners will welcome Spanish side Valencia in on Thursday, for the first leg of their UEL semifinal tie.
The north London side reportedly has a double injury boost too, with both attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil and defender Nacho Monreal set to be available, having recovered from a bruised foot and a calf injury respectively.
Of course, who knows if that means manager Unai Emery will hand them a starting assignment or not. It’s a good thing that the duo are both expected to be fit and available, because the list of injuries for Arsenal is quite long.
Juventus bound Aaron Ramsey (hamstring), Barcelona loanee Denis Suarez (muscle fatigue), defender Hector Bellerin (knee), long time absent Rob Holding (knee) and forward Danny Welbeck (ankle) are all out of commission for this one.
Emery may have to get a bit creative with his starting lineup in this one.
Arsenal FC at Valencia (UEFA Europa League semifinal Leg 1/2) FYIs
Kickoff- Thursday May 2, Emirates Stadium 8pm
Arsenal FC starting XI prediction: go to this link
Odds via Betfair- Chelsea 19/10, Draw 5/2, Valencia 3/1
Odds to qualify Chelsea 8/11, Valencia 11/10
Prediction- Arsenal 1, Valencia 0
With both English clubs now through to the semi-final round, it seems very likely that one of them will win it all. Maybe we could have a London derby final too!
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets:Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.