On Thursday night, Arsenal visit struggling German side Koln in the Europa League, as the Gunners look to seal qualification for the knockout rounds.
Koln are enduring a nightmare campaign in the Bundesliga and are currently rock-bottom of the table. The home side’s performances in the Europa League have not been much better either, as they are currently also bottom of the group.
Peter Stoger’s side have picked up just three points from their first four games in the Europa League, losing three of their four games.
However, in their last European game, the home side recorded a 5-2 win over BATE Borisov which has kept alive their slim hopes of making the knockout stages.
The German side have only played two home games in the Europa League in its current guise, losing one and winning last time out in that aforementioned clash against BATE.
The Bundesliga strugglers lost the reverse fixture 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium. On current form, they look unlikely to turn their form around in this one.
Arsenal tops the group after picking up three wins and a draw from their four games so far. A win in this encounter would see Arsene Wenger’s side qualify for the knockout rounds.
The Gunners have been in decent form of late and last time out the north London side recorded a 2-0 win over local rivals Tottenham in the north London derby.
However, a goalless draw against Red Star Belgrade last time out in Europe ended a three-game winning run for Wenger’s side in the Europa League.
The visitors have played just two away games in the Europa League and recorded two wins in Borisov and Belgrade. The English side will be highly confident of continuing that run in this clash.
These two teams have enjoyed contrasting fortunes in this competition this season. Forebet predicts that Arsenal’s good run in the Europa League will continue with a win in Germany.