Many Arsenal fans have settled already with reality and are looking forward to achieving great heights with the Europa League this season – as did Manchester United last season.
They will open their Europa League campaign against Bundesliga outfit FC Koln at the Emirates Stadium, and we look forward to who will emerge victorious between the duo.
Last weekend during premier league duties, Arsene Wenger led his men to thrash Bournemouth 3-0. So, the gunners deserve being regarded as favourites to earn all three points after full-time against Koln.
And as far as the gunners team news is concerned, the club’s boss Arsene Wenger is expected to make more than a few changes in his starting XI that played last weekend against Bournemouth in the premier league.
Arsenal are playing Chelsea next on Sunday after the Koln game, and the London Derby will sure influence Wenger’s selections on Thursday, prompting him to rest a few key players for the Europa League game.
Upfront, we expect both Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez to be in the starting XI behind Frenchman Olivier Giroud in the No. 9 position.
In the middle of the park, Wenger may choose to start Jack Wilshere to partner Mohamed Elneny, while the likes of Sead Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin should be in the wing-back angles.
David Ospina may replace Petr Cech in-between the sticks, while the likes Per Mertesacker and Rob Holding will probably form the shield to secure him at the backline.
Here is the gunners probable 3-4-2-1 starting XI against Koln.
GK – Ospina
DC – Monreal
DC – Per
DC – Holding
ML – Kolasinac
MC – Wilshere
MC – Elneny
MR – Bellerin
AC – Alexis
AC – Theo
FC – Giroud
