Ostersunds FK vs Arsenal, Europa League live: Team news and goal updates
Follow minute-by-minute coverage of Arsenal's match in Sweden
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal are preparing for their Europa League Round of 32 first-leg clash with Ostersunds FK tonight, hoping that the competition will provide them with a welcome route back into the Champions League next season.
The Gunners look set to miss out on the top four for the second season running following last weekend’s disappointing defeat in the North London Derby but the bookies make Arsenal big favourites for their first-leg against their Swedish opposition despite their very poor away form, having lost each of the last four games on their travels.Nevertheless, the Gunners cruised through the group stages of the competition to set up the favourable draw against the Swedish minnows and have performed generally well in Europe so far so they will have their sights firmly set on killing the tie as soon as possible.
But the Swedish side who were only founded 21 years ago will be hoping to spring a major shock, led by the sole British manager in the Europa League, Graham Potter, who took over at the helm in 2010. He has since guided Ostersunds FK from the Swedish 4th tier to the heady heights of Europa League football and will be hoping that the miracle continues in this historic clash.
Follow all of the live action below!
What time does it start?
Ostersunds FK vs Arsenal kicks off at 6pm.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 3 from 5.30pm. Highlights will be shown at 10.15pm on BT Sport 2.
It’s a big game for…
Danny Welbeck: The Arsenal forward has been plagued by injury during his Arsenal career but is ironically the only fit and available first team striker for the Gunners tonight.
Alexandre Lacazette has a knee injury, Olivier Giroud has been sold and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is cup-tied in the Europa League, much to Arsene Wenger’s frustration.
Arsene Wenger has criticised Uefa’s rule which leaves Arsenal‘s £56m January signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ineligible to play in their Europa League round-of-32 first leg against Ostersunds FK on Thursday evening, and the rest of the competition, despite the striker having not played in it this season.
So the pressure falls upon the shoulders of the former Manchester United forward who has five goals to his name so far this season.
Best stat
18: It is 18 years since Arsenal last took part in this competition having qualified from the group stages of the Champions League for 17 seasons running prior.
In the 1999-00 season though, the Gunners progressed to the Uefa Cup final where they were beaten by Galatasaray in a penalty-shoot out.
They will be hoping to go one better, this time around.
Player to watch…
Alhaji Gero: The Nigerian forward has scored two goals in Ostersunds memorable Europa League campaign thus far, helping them qualify for this stage for the first time in their history.
He will be looking to take on his fellow countryman in the shape of Alex Iwobi in pursuit of springing one of the biggest shocks in the competition.
Gero to be the hero?
Form guide…
Ostersunds FK: WDWLDW
Arsenal: LWLWWL
Odds…
Ostersunds FK to win: 7/1
Arsenal to win: 21/50
Draw: 18/5
Ostersunds 0-3 Arsenal
66: Henrikh Mkhitaryan wriggles his way forward and slips in Nacho Monreal who cannot quite get to the pass to pull it back inside the box and the ball trickles out for a goal kick. Arsenal are in charge here but you really wouldn't bet against an Ostersunds goal.
Ostersunds 0-3 Arsenal
70: Danny Welbeck and Nacho Monreal combine to set the latter up with a chance to score his second. Monreal shoots from the edge of the area and his low drive deflects off his own player, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Ostersunds clear.
Ostersunds 0-3 Arsenal
72: Nacho Monreal's game is over. The goal-scorer is replaced by Sead Kolasinac.
Ostersunds 0-3 Arsenal
75: For those concerned about the possession stats, and I'm sure there's plenty who are, Ostersunds are up to 42 per cent. Up from the measly 18 they managed in the first 20 minutes or so.
Ostersunds 0-3 Arsenal
And, on his first game in the Europa League for Arsenal...
Ostersunds 0-3 Arsenal
80: Inside the last ten minutes now and I think Arsenal will see out this result. Danny Welbeck cuts inside from the left channel and curls an effort wide. He has not played a great deal of football in recent months and it is really showing.
Ostersunds 0-3 Arsenal
82: There won't be a goal for Danny Welbeck, this evening. He is replaced by Eddie Nketiah.
Ostersunds 0-3 Arsenal
84: Arsene Wenger makes his third and final change by bringing off Henrikh Mkhitaryan in place of Reiss Nelson.
Ostersunds 0-3 Arsenal
87: The game slows to a walking pace and the class gap is showing as much now as it did in those hectic 20 minutes.
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