Arsenal have been a familiar name in the Europa League in recent seasons. The Gunners may be striving for a return to the Champions League, but Unai Emery’s side will have to make do with Europe’s elite competition’s little brother for this season.
The team from north London continue their Europa League campaign on Thursday night, as they host Standard Liege at the Emirates Stadium on matchday day two.
The Gunners started as favourites to win Group F and an opening gameweek 3-0 mauling of Eintracht Frankfurt only added to the notion that Unai Emery’s side will win the group at a canter.
The Germans had made the semi-finals of the competition last season and the trip to the Commerzbank Stadium was supposedly Arsenal’s toughest of their campaign.
However, Arsenal have become adept at winning in this competition, having won six of their last seven matches in the Europa League.
The only game they have failed to win in that run was last season’s final when London rivals Chelsea ruthlessly exposed the Gunners weaknesses in a 4-1 hammering.
Emery’s side has not really developed that much from last season, although they are tough opposition on home soil. The home side has won their last five home games in this competition, so will be confident of another victory in this clash.
Standard Liege arrive in the English capital in good form, though. The Belgian side are no pushovers and recorded a 2-0 home win over Vitoria Guimaraes on matchday one.
The game against the Portuguese side saw Standard record a third straight clean sheet in the Europa League. Considering Arsenal’s prolific record on home soil, that good defensive record is likely to end at the Emirates.
The visitors may have started their European campaign with a win, but Forebet predicts that they will suffer a high-scoring defeat in their second group outing of the season.