Arsenal are in need to overcome a 1-0 deficit against BATE Borisov from the first leg in Belarus to get through to the Europa League round of 16.
Arsenal were uncharacteristically beaten by BATE Borisov in the first leg of their round of 32 encounters in Belarus last week, where Unai Emery’s men suffered a rather shock defeat to the European minnows. Arsenal were fully expected to win the game, that too with a big margin, but now find themselves a goal down in the tie and will also miss star striker Alexandre Lacazette through suspension for his red.
Arsenal’s loss from last week was also due to them missing several good chances in the opening quarter of the game, and considering how they began the game, Emery would have been hoping his side would have had one giant step into the next round. Arsenal now need to find their rhythm at the Emirates and ensure they score enough to send BATE packing.
As for their opponents, BATE Borisov could make history if they put in another good performance and ensure they avoid defeat against the Gunners. In that case, it would be the first time they reach the round of 16 of a European competition in their history, although they will be very much aware that playing a team like Arsenal at their home is no easy task.
BATE deserved that victory back in Belarus last week against the Gunners, especially considering this was their first competitive game in more than two months, as their league season only begins in March. Will BATE go through to the next round with yet another good performance against the Gunners or will Arsenal show their true colours and ensure passage into the next round of the Europa League? We’ll have to find out.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
Arsenal not only lost ground in this tie last week with their loss but also lost striker Alexandre Lacazette to a straight red card as the game unfolded. Lacazette was dismissed for an elbow on the opponent, meaning he would miss the next two games including this one against BATE. Arsenal do have the means to replace him with other players, but the Frenchman has been a vital part of the side this season.
Emery might make changes to the starting lineup as well as the formation of his side which needs a win. The manager might opt against a back three in favour of a four-man unit, with Nacho Monreal the likely candidate to be sacrificed for a bench role. Mesut Ozil might be finally included in the squad although it still is doubtful he plays from the start.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could start up front in the absence of Lacazette, while the likes of Alex Iwobi and Denis Suarez could start. Lucas Torreira could also come in for Matteo Guendouzi in midfield, while, Ainsley Maitland-Niles could begin at right back. On the other hand, Aaron Ramsey is also set to be included in the squad, although the Welshman is likely to start the game on the bench.
Probable Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1) – Cech; Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, Koscielny, Kolasinac; Xhaka, Torreira; Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Suarez; Aubameyang
BATE Borisov
BATE manager Baha is unlikely to make any wholesale changes to the side that beat the Gunners last week, although former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb could see himself on the bench in favour of Yevgeniy Berezkin. Barring that change in personnel, expect BATE to field a similar starting team to the one that won last week.
In goal, Denis Scherbitski will continue in his role, while the likes of Aleksey Rios, Zakhar Volkov, Egor Filipenko, and Aleksandar Filipovic will stand guard in defence.
Dmitri Baga, Stanislav Dragun, and Berezkin will form the three-man unit in central midfield, while the likes of Nemanja Milic, Maksim Skavysh, and Igor Stasevich will form the front three to try and shake Arsenal’s defence.
Probable Starting Lineup (4-3-3) – Scherbitski; Rios, Volkov, Filipenko, Filipovic; Baga, Dragun, Berezkin; Milic, Skavysh, Stasevich
Key Stats
- Arsenal will host BATE Borisov in European competitions for the second time, having beaten them 6-0 in last season’s group stage at the Emirates.
- Belarusian sides have lost three of their four previous visits to English clubs in the UEFA Europa League (including qualifiers); the other was won by BATE Borisov away at Everton in December 2009.
- Arsenal haven’t failed to score in both legs of a two-legged tie in European competition since the European Supercup final in February 1995
- BATE Borisov have won each of their last three Europa League games; they had only won two of their previous 16 in the competition beforehand
- Igor Stasevich, who assisted BATE’s winning goal in the first leg against Arsenal, has at least three more assists (seven) than any other player in the 2018-19 UEFA Europa League
Player to Watch
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Arsenal’s top scorer in all competitions this season hasn’t been his usual goalscoring self in recent weeks. Aubameyang, having led the Premier League charts for some time, has fallen behind Sergio Aguero and Mohamed Salah in the PL Golden Boot race, while an overall horror show last week has stretched his time on the field without a goal for two games now.
Against BATE, add the absence of Lacazette into the mix, and the pressure has only increased on the Gabonese heading into this crucial game. Aubameyang will be the man in focus when Arsenal face BATE at the Emirates, as the only thing that can take the Gunners into the next round are goals, and Aubameyang needs to fire them in.
Prediction
Arsenal 2-0 BATE
Last week’s performance could be considered a blip in their season, and Arsenal could be ready to bounce back from that disappointing result back in Belarus. The Gunners will now play in home comfort, where barring the cup defeats to Tottenham and Manchester United in the past couple of months, they have been in good form generally.
It certainly will take more than one goal to see through BATE and into the next round, Arsenal will be extra careful to not concede an away goal. BATE, on the other hand, will be looking to replicate their performance from last week, although it surely will take a lot to shake the Gunners on home turf. Expect a decent victory for Arsenal in this game.