Arsenal vs Standard Liege preview, predictions & possible XIs
Arsenal will be hoping to continue their good form in the Europa League when they play host to Standard Liege on Thursday night.
Unai Emery’s side have already had to negotiate past a tricky opener against last season’s semi-finalist in Eintracht Frankfurt, but the Gunners made light work of Die Adler, thrashing the Bundesliga club 3-0 at the Commerzbank-Arena.
Standard Liege, meanwhile, also got off to a flier in Group F, collecting a comfortable three points against Portuguese outfit Vitoria de Guimaraes in their first match at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne.
Read on for Arsenal vs Standard Liege predictions, preview, team news and TV coverage information.
When is Arsenal vs Standard Liege and where can I watch live?
Competition: Europa League
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Date: Thursday, 3 October 2019
Kick-off: 8:00 PM BST
TV coverage (UK): BT Sport 2
Last four meetings: Arsenal vs Standard Liege
24 Nov 2009: Arsenal 2-0 Standard (Champions League)
16 Sep 2009: Standard 2-3 Arsenal (Champions League)
03 Nov 1993: Standard 0-7 Arsenal (European Cup Winners Cup)
20 Oct 1993: Arsenal 3-0 Standard (European Cup Winners Cup)
Aggregate Score: Arsenal (WWWW) 15-2 Standard Liege (LLLL)
Ones to watch
Arsenal: Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka has exploded onto the scene this season and already looks to be Arsenal’s best attacking outlet on the wing, so far outperforming £72m signing Nicolas Pepe, as well as wonderkid Reiss Nelson. The 18-year-old possesses natural ability in abundance and complements his fleet-footed swiftness with an innate dribbling ability, while he has already demonstrated in this tournament alone that he has the capacity to influence key games.
Key stat: Bukayo Saka was directly involved in all three Arsenal goals against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Standard Liege: Paul-Jose M’Poku
A graduate of Tottenham Hotspurs’ academy and a former Leyton Orient loanee, Paul-Jose M’Poku will return to north London on Thursday for the first time since leaving Arsenal’s bitter adversaries in 2011. The prolific winger offers not only a significant goalscoring threat, but also an ability to create, with the DR Congo international already having two goals and two assists to his name this season in the Belgian First Division A.
Key stat: Paul-Jose M’Poku was directly involved in 13 goals in the Belgian First Division A last season (8 goals, 5 assists).
Team news
Arsenal
Arsenal could provide minutes to Hector Bellerin after the full-back returned from a lengthy injury to play 90 minutes in an Under-23 draw with Liverpool at Borehamwood on Saturday, while Kieran Tierney is “ready to play” according to Emery.
Mesut Ozil was absent for Monday night’s clash against Man Utd but could return to the squad on Thursday, while Rob Holding is also in with a chance of making the starting XI.
Predicted XI: Martinez; Maitland-Niles, Holding, Mustafi, Tierney; Torreira, Willock, Nelson, Saka, Pepe; Aubameyang.
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Standard Liege
Manager Michel Preud’homme will be without Orlando Sa and Noe Dussenne who are both out with an Achilles tendon rupture and cruciate ligament rupture respectively.
Predicted XI: Bodart; Vojvoda, Vanheusden, Laifis, Gavory; Bastien, Cimirot, M’Poku, Carcela, Lestienne; Emond.
Squawka prediction
Arsenal look to be growing under Unai Emery, a specialist in the Europa League, so expect last season’s finalists to have little trouble collecting three points on home turf against a side they historically always seem to thrash.
Scoreline prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Standard Liege
