FRANKFURT vs ARSENAL – EUROPA LEAGUE LIVE!
- This will be the first competitive meeting between Eintracht Frankfurt and Arsenal
- Eintracht’s past three meetings with English opponents have all finished in a draw
- Arsenal have lost their past four away European games against German opponents
- Eintracht Frankfurt are unbeaten in their past 16 home games in European competition
Frankfurt XI: Trapp, Abraham, Hasebe, Hinteregger, Da Costa, Kamada, Kohr, Sow, Kostic, Silva, Dost
Arsenal XI: Martinez, Chambers, Luiz, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Willock, Smith Rowe, Saka, Aubameyang
Twitter round-up
Ally: Wow Aubameyang starts this match after playing for 90 mins in all our games. Meanwhile, Ozil is rested after just playing 70 mins.
Dan: Ozil being rested is a terrible decision. If anything the man needs more minuets. Definitely not match fit and we won’t see the best of him until he gets back into the swing of things.
Ire: Betting companies need to have an option to bet on Ozil getting “rested”… Cuz based on the last 2 seasons, that’s a pot of gold.
I suspect that’s why they don’t have a market for that, Ire…
Frankfurt vs Arsenal LIVE: Europa League score, goals, highlights and updates (Image: GETTY)
Ozil rested…
17:25: Yep, one 70-minute appearance and Mesut Ozil deserves a rest. Sounds about right.
The German playmaker made his first appearance of the season against Watford on Sunday. The 30-year-old missed the start of the season after being targeted by carjackers and because of illness.
“Really the first match he played on Sunday, he played well and was good physically,” Emery said.
“Now he is ready to help us, not tomorrow but on Sunday – we are going to play another match and tomorrow we are thinking to do some rotation.”
Frankfurt vs Arsenal LIVE: Europa League score, goals, highlights and updates (Image: GETTY)
Predictions
17:15: Frankfurt have a fun game on their Twitter feed. The randomly generated scorelines stop when you click on it – revealing your prediction.
Mine, as you can see, says it’ll be 5-4 in favour of Arsenal tonight. Just checked and it’s 200/1 on Betfair. Easy money I reckon.
Another tweet Frankfurt sent out read: “Dear Arsenal fans, a warm welcome to the Frankfurt City Forest for the first group match of the 2019/20 Europa League campaign. We are very pleased to be able to greet you in our wonderful stadium. Let’s enjoy an exciting and fair European cup tie together!”
Awwww, aren’t they nice.
Frankfurt vs Arsenal LIVE: Europa League score, goals, highlights and updates (Image: TWITTER)
Elsewhere…
17:10: Arsenal aren’t the only British representative in action this evening – not by a long shot.
Celtic are also in the strange, silly and unnecessary 5:55pm slot. Neil Lennon’s side travel to France for a tricky clash with Rennes.
Later tonight Manchester United welcome Astana to Old Trafford, Feyenoord travel to Steven Gerrard’s Rangers and Wolves host Braga.
Frankfurt vs Arsenal LIVE: Europa League score, goals, highlights and updates (Image: GETTY)
Twitter round-up
James: Shkodran Mustafi x David Luiz is the most ambitious crossover event in history.
Boom: David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi paired together for a Europa Group Stage match away at Frankfurt. What could possibly go wrong?
Jack: Shkodran Mustafi, David Luiz AND Calum Chambers. Sounds like Unai Emery wants a sweet payoff and few months off.
We’re one Mike Dean officiating away from complete and utter comedy tonight.
Team news – Frankfurt
16:50: I’ve no idea how many changes Frankfurt have made – but I know there’s no sign of Luka Jovic, Ante Rebic or Sebastien Haller.
All three of last season’s heroes have been sold to Real Madrid, AC Milan and West Ham for well over £100million.
There’s still more than a couple of threatening players in Frankfurt’s ranks with Bast Dost, Andre Silva and Filip Kostic all starting.
Frankfurt XI: Trapp, Abraham, Hasebe, Hinteregger, Da Costa, Kamada, Kohr, Sow, Kostic, Silva, Dost.
Subs: Ronnow, N’Dicka, Falette, Fernandes, Joveljic, Chandler, Paciencia.
Frankfurt vs Arsenal LIVE: Europa League score, goals, highlights and updates (Image: GETTY)
Team news – Arsenal
16:45: Unai Emery has made seven changes from the trip to Vicarage Road.
The four survivors are Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Granit Xhaka, Sead Kolasinac and David Luiz, the latter presumably a punishment for conceding that late penalty.
Elsewhere Emiliano Martinez starts between the sticks with Calum Chambers at right-back with Shkodran Mustafi partnering Luiz in the middle.
There’s starts for youngsters Joe Willock, Emile Smith Rowe and someone I’ve been hugely impressed with – Bukayo Saka.
Frankfurt vs Arsenal LIVE: Europa League score, goals, highlights and updates (Image: GETTY)
Starting XI…
16:40: Well… Unai Emery has certainly made changes from the side who drew with Watford on Sunday. What a game that was… for the neutral.
Arsenal XI: Martinez, Chambers, Luiz, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Willock, Smith Rowe, Saka, Aubameyang.
Subs: Leno, Ceballos, Maitland-Niles, Pepe, Nelson, Guendouzi, Martinelli.
Afternoon
16:35: The return of Thursday evening football… how I’ve missed you.
That’s right, folks. Europa League action returns to our screens with an unusually exciting opener. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Usually it’s someone like Astana, Qarabag or Ludogorets – but tonight Arsenal must travel to Bundesliga outfit Frankfurt.
Frankfurt’s Commerzbank-Arena is an absolute cauldron. I remember last season against Chelsea they had flares, terrifying flags and even dismantled the seats.
This will not be a walk in the park.
Frankfurt vs Arsenal LIVE: Europa League score, goals, highlights and updates (Image: GETTY)
FRANKFURT vs ARSENAL – TEAM NEWS
Arsenal continue without striker Alexandre Lacazette, who is sidelined until October with an ankle injury.
Full-backs Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney have resumed training but haven’t made the trip to Germany. Rob Holding is in line for a first appearance for nine months.
Serbia winger Filip Kostic and midfielder Mijat Gacinovic are expected to be available for last season’s Europa League semi-finalists.