Arsenal will resume their Europa League campaign after an enforced break when they host Bodo/Glimt at the Emirates on Thursday.
Mikel Arteta will switch his attention from domestic duties to European commitments when host Bodo/Glimt on Thursday. After dispatching Tottenham at the weekend in the North London Derby, the Gunners are in a healthy position.
The next clash would ideally have been their third game of the UEFA Europa League for Arsenal. But the death of British Monarch Queen Elizabeth II halted their match against PSV Eindhoven. While that clash has been rescheduled for a date later this month, the Gunners will be eager to resume their campaign with Bodo/Glimt.
In their first game, Arsenal proved worthy opponents for FC Zurich. Goals from Marquinhos and Eddie Nketiah secured a narrow victory. Arteta will be keen to secure a comfortable position in their group and avoid any possible complications.
Bodo/Glimt will be eager to test their resolve against a top-draw side like Arsenal. They were fortunate enough to see the Gunners’ Matchday 2 clash get postponed, which allowed them to take advantage. After managing a draw against PSV in the first game, they secured a victory over Zurich to top the group standings.
Looking at their away stats in Europe, Bodo/Glimt have been victorious once in 13 trips, something they might look to change. However, any clash against a team like Arsenal will likely be a difficult proposition, with the Gunners one of the in-form teams in the continent.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
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— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 5, 2022
Arteta will take this UEFA Europa League clash to ring wholesale changes to his eleven against Bodo/Glimt. The midweek fixture allows the Spaniard to rest some of his first-team stars while allowing fringe players an opportunity to shine. However, Mohamed Elneny and Emile Smith Rowe are absentees for this and the next months.
As for the defensive unit, Matt Turner is expected to replace Aaron Ramsdale in goal. Depending on the fitness of Cedric Soares, Arteta will take the call over completely revamping his back-four. If the Portuguese right-back is available, Takehiro Tomiyasu could come into the heart of the Arsenal defence alongside Rob Holding. Kieran Tierney is expected to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back.
If Cedric is not fit to feature, then one of Gabriel Magalhaes or Ben White could feature in central defence. In midfield, Arteta will have a tricky call to make. With Elneny injured, Arteta might be tempted to start academy star Matt Smith alongside Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Granit Xhaka is likely to feature if that is not a possibility. Fabio Vieira will replace Martin Odegaard in the attacking midfield position. Alternatively, Arteta could rest Xhaka and play with Vieira and Odegaard in a midfield three.
Marquinhos is expected to start on the right side of the Arsenal attack in place of Bukayo Saka. Reiss Nelson will likely replace Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank. Eddie Nketiah will lead the line for Arsenal against Bodo/Glimt.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Turner; Cedric, Holding, Tomiyasu, Tierney; Odegaard, Lokonga, Vieira; Marquinhos, Nketiah, Nelson
Bodo/Glimt
The Norwegian outfit do not have too many problems with injuries or suspensions. Sondre Fet is the only player missing from action through fitness issues for Bodo/Glimt ahead of the Arsenal clash.
📍Arsenal pic.twitter.com/ASROSy6nWc
— FK Bodø/Glimt (@Glimt) October 5, 2022
Manager Kjetil Knutsen will likely revert to a more attacking setup and might prefer a 4-3-3 formation. Nikita Haikin, Alfons Sampsted, Marius Hoibraten, Marius Lode and Brice Wembangomo will form the backline.
A midfield three consisting of Hugo Vetlesen, Patrick Berg and Ulrik Saltnes will hold those positions. Berg will be sitting at the base, with the other two on either side of him. Joel Mvuka, Lars-Jorgen Salvesen will be the wide attackers, with Ola Solbakken leading the line against Arsenal.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Haikin; Sampsted, Hoibraten, Lode, Wembangomo; Vetlesen, Berg, Saltnes; Mvuka, Salvesen, Solbakken
Key Stats
- Arsenal have lost once in their last nine games in all competitions.
- Arsenal are unbeaten in six games against Norwegian opposition.
- Arsenal have won each of their last seven games on home turf.
- Arsenal have failed to keep a clean sheet in those seven home games.
- Bodo/Glimt have registered a single victory in their last 13 trips to European opposition.
Player to Watch
Fabio Vieira
The Portuguese attacking midfielder was signed for big money in the summer transfer window and has impressed for Arsenal so far. He also got his first goal for the Gunners on his full Premier League debut against Brentford last month and will be eager to build on it further.
Vieira is an interesting player for his attributes, and Arteta will be keen to test him more in the Europa League. The Portuguese midfielder will have to build a reputation to forge his status further. Games like the ones against Bodo/Glimt provide the perfect platform to build form and momentum, and Vieira will be the player in focus for Arsenal.
Prediction
Arsenal 3-1 Bodo/Glimt
Arsenal have far superior firepower compared to Bodo/Glimt. The clash at the Emirates provides further incentive for the north Londoners to wield their dominance. They have not had a great record keeping clean sheets, meaning Arsenal are in danger of conceding again.
While Mikel Arteta is expected to shuffle his pack for the European encounter majorly, Arsenal will have the attacking firepower to score plenty of goals. Fabio Vieira and Eddie Nketiah will use this game to build their form and numbers, as the manager will be eager to claim the top spot in the group.
