Arsenal must eliminate mistakes

Gunners looking to bounce back from their loss at the weekend by seeing off their Czech opposition. Mikel Arteta’s men have not lost any match to a Czech opponent before, the last time these 2 sides faced off was in the Champions League back in 2007/2008 and the Gunners ran out 7-0 victorious and they will be looking to repeat such feat tonight! The Gunners lost their weekend game against Liverpool and they would be out to grab a much-needed victory in this match, knowing that this is their most likely route back into the Champions League next season.

COYG!!!!!!!!

on Slavia Prague...

They are a really strong side. They’ve been unbeaten in the league. You see how they have the ball. I think in the last few years, competing at the highest level, they’ve always been in the game and made it really difficult. [They’re] really competitive, brave, very direct and incisive and a team that can cause you problems throughout the game. They never give up, they have a top attitude all the time and that’s why they beat teams because they’re a really good side.

~ Mikel Arteta

THE BREAKDOWN:

TEAM NEWS:

ARSENAL:

The Gunners will be without defender, Kieran Tierney, who sustained an injury last weekend against Liverpool while David Luiz will also miss out with an injury. Granit Xhaka, Smith Rowe, and Bukayo Saka all look set to return after sitting out the last game due to injury. Aside from that, everyone seems to be available for this game.

POSSIBLE LINEUP:

Leno, Bellerin, Gabriel, Mari, Cedric, Xhaka, Partey, Smith Rowe, Saka, Aubameyang, Lacazette.

SPARTA PRAGUE:

The Czech side will be looking to cause a major upset after seeing off Rangers and Leicester City in their previous knockout ties. They would have to do so without experienced center-back Ondrej Kudela, who is suspended for this tie. Central defenders Simon Deli and David Hovorka are also missing due to injury, giving the Czech side some problems at the back. In the attack, they have the pace of Peter Olayinka and Abdallah Sima to help and cause some danger on the counter.

POSSIBLE LINEUP:

Vagner, Bah, Zima, Hromada, Boril, Holes, Sevcik, Sima, Stanciu, Olayinka, Kuchta.

PREDICTION:

Both sides are in total contrasting forms, while the Gunners are patchy in their performance, the Czech side are soaring high this season, having already knockout British opposition in Leicester City and Rangers in the previous rounds. Expect them to cause some problems for the Gunners, but we believe that the Gunners will prove too strong for them.

Arsenal 2 vs. 0 Sparta Prague 

COYG!!!

Match Preview by Patrick Alexander