Arsenal vs Vitória Guimarães preview, predictions & possible XIs
Arsenal have the chance to make a quick recovery after their defeat to Sheffield United when they host Vitória Guimarães in the Europa League on Thursday.
The Gunners went down 1-0 at Bramall Lane on Monday night in yet another miserable away day performance, registering just three shots on target all night against Chris Wilder’s newly-promoted side.
In Guimarães, they face a side in strong form domestically having lost just one of their seven league games so far, although they’re yet to score in their two Europa League group matches to date, taking just one point.
Can Unai Emery get Arsenal straight back to winning ways or will it be more frustration in north London?
Read on for our preview, predictions, team news and TV coverage information.
When is Arsenal vs Vitória Guimarães and where can I watch live?
Competition: Uefa Europa League
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Date: Thursday, 24 October 2019
Kick-off: 8:00 PM BST
TV coverage (UK): BT Sport 2
Recent form
Arsenal (LWWDW)
21/10/19: Sheffield United 1-0 Arsenal (Premier League)
06/10/19: Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth (Premier League)
03/10/19: Arsenal 4-0 Standard Liege (Europa League)
30/09/19: Man Utd 1-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
24/09/19: Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest (League Cup)
Vitória Guimarães (DLWDW)
19/10/19: Sintra 1-1 Vitória Guimarães (Taca de Portugal)
03/10/19: Vitória Guimarães 0-1 Frankfurt (Europa League)
29/09/19: Vitória Guimarães 1-0 Pacos Ferreira (Primeira Liga)
25/09/19: Benfica 0-0 Vitória Guimarães (Taca de Liga)
22/09/19: Tondela 1-3 Vitória Guimarães (Primeira Liga)
Ones to watch
Arsenal: Joe Willock
Mesut Ozil’s playing time is decreasing rapidly as Emery looks to transition toward Arsenal’s new generation. One of those fresh-faced youngsters is Joe Willock.
The 20-year-old has started and scored in each of the Gunners’ two Europa League matches so far this season and Emery will look to him for goals again as he seeks to take that burden off the shoulders of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Key stat: Willock has scored three goals in seven starts for Arsenal across all competitions this season.
Vitória Guimarães: Marcus Edwards
Once of Tottenham Hotspur, Marcus Edwards will be relishing the opportunity to return to north London and inflict misery upon his old rivals Arsenal.
Still only 20, Edwards has bags of pace and will look to test the fitness of both Arsenal full-backs throughout the match on Thursday and will obviously be hell-bent on grabbing himself a goal.
Key stat: Edwards scored a goal and assisted another during a 3-2 win over Arsenal U-23s for Spurs in 2017.
Team news
Arsenal
Alexandre Lacazette returned to action against Sheffield United and will compete with Gabriel Martinelli for a place in the starting XI on Thursday, while Kieran Tierney and Hector Bellerin are also expected to start having missed the defeat to Sheffield United.
Reiss Nelson is out until next month, while fellow youngster Emile Smith Rowe is also a doubt.
Predicted XI: Martinez; Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Tierney; Ceballos, Torreira; Maitland-Niles, Willock, Saka; Lacazette.
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Vitória Guimarães
Vitória Guimarães could be without up to nine first-team players on Thursday, meaning Ivo Vieira might be forced into picking an incredibly conservative line-up.
Former Spurs academy player Marcus Edwards will hope to start against his old north London rivals.
Predicted XI: Silva; Soares, Tapsoba, Henrique, Hanin; Edwards, Poha, Pepe, Evangelista, Davidson; Bonatini.
Squawka prediction
Arsenal were really disappointing on Monday night but have been flawless so far in the Europa League.
Vitória Guimarães might well prove tough to break down but the Gunners should have far too much attacking talent for the Portuguese side.
Scoreline prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Vitória Guimarães
