Arsenal vs Eintracht Frankfurt preview, predictions & possible XIs
Arsenal can seal top spot in Europa League Group F when they welcome Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday evening.
Unai Emery’s men have come under intense scrutiny of late following a string of disappointing performances at home and abroad.
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However, they’re looking good for another deep run in Uefa’s second major European competition, and have saved some of their best showings for that stage this season.
As for last season’s semi-finalists, Frankfurt cannot qualify for the round of 32 on matchday five or be eliminated from the running.
Read on for our Arsenal v Eintracht Frankfurt preview, predictions, team news and TV coverage information.
When is Arsenal vs Eintracht Frankfurt and where can I watch live?
Competition: Europa League
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Date: Thursday, 28 August 2019
Kick-off: 8:00 PM (UK time)
TV coverage (UK): BT Sport 2
Form guide
Arsenal (DLDDD)
23 November 2019: Arsenal 2-2 Southampton (Premier League)
09 November 2019: Leicester City 2-0 Arsenal (Premier League)
06 November 2019: Vitoria Guimaraes 1-1 Arsenal (Europa League)
02 November 2019: Arsenal 1-1 Wolves (Premier League)
30 October 2019: Liverpool 5-5 Arsenal (League Cup)
Eintracht Frankfurt (LLLWW)
23 November 2019: Eintracht Frankfurt 0-2 Wolfsburg (Bundesliga)
10 November 2019: Freiburg 1-0 Eintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga)
07 November 2019: Standard Liège 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt (Europa League)
02 November 2019: Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
30 October 2019: St. Pauli 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt (DFB Pokal)
Ones to watch
Arsenal: Gabriel Martinelli
This season’s Europa League has served as a showroom for some of Arsenal’s upcoming stars and no one has grabbed the limelight more than young Brazilian striker Gabriel Martinelli, who is firmly knocking on their first-team door.
The 18-year-old marksman, who joined from Ituano in the summer, has scored in each of the Gunners’ previous two home Europa League matches and will fancy his chances to make it three in a row against Frankfurt.
Key stat: Only Myron Boadu (4) has scored more Europa League as a teenager than Martinelli (3) this season.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Filip Kostic
A number of the key men who played a pivotal role in Frankfurt reaching last season’s Europa League semi-finals against the odds left in the summer but Serbian winger Filip Kostic remained and he’s picked up where he left off.
Kostic will no doubt be the biggest threat to the Gunners especially as Emery’s full-backs haven’t exactly been flawless during the early stages of this campaign.
Key stat: No one has created more chances from open play in the Europa League than Kostic (11) this season.
Team news
Arsenal
Dani Ceballos and Bukayo Saka are both available to Unai Emery as they continue to recover from their respective injuries. The under-pressure Spanish coach should retain his Europa League policy of giving youngsters and those on the fringe a runout. Rob Holding, meanwhile, is a doubt.
Predicted XI: Martínez; Sokratis, Mustafi, Luiz; Maitland-Niles, Willock, Torreira, Kolasinac; Martinelli, Pépé, Nelson.
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Eintracht Frankfurt
Frederik Ronnow should recover from a recent illness to take up his position in Frankfurt’s goal. Kevin Trapp, whom Ronnow understudies, is out with a shoulder injury.
Predicted XI: Ronnow; Abraham, Hasebe, Hinteregger; Da Costa, Fernandes, Rode, Kostić; Sow; Paciência, Silva.
Squawka prediction
Arsenal look a different animal in Europe when Emery gets to showcase their upcoming stars.
They’ve already been involved in a couple of high-scoring affairs and this match could be another with Frankfurt hoping to feed off the anxiety that’ll no doubt engulf the Emirates Stadium.
But the Gunners should be too strong here especially with Eintracht going through a sticky patch of their own.
Scoreline prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
