Arsenal play their final group H game of the Europa League this evening when they take on BATE Borisov at the Emirates.
The opening game of the tournament saw us win 4-2 in Belarus, so after three games which only provided one goal, a few tonight would be very welcome.
Here are the official line-ups, as Arsene Wenger reverts to a back four.
Arsenal: Ospina, Debuchy, Chambers, Holding, Maitland-Niles, Coquelin, Elneny, Wilshere, Welbeck, Walcott, Giroud
Subs: Macey, Sheaf, Nelson, Reine-Adelaide, Nketiah, Willock, Akpom
BATE Borisov: Steve, John, Malcolm, Walter, Arnold, Gerard, Eric, Kevin, Daniel, Reginald, Ted
Subs: Frank, Derek, The Splatch, Colin, Arthur, Valentine, McCringleberry
That Bate team is looking stacked!
Wenger not including Per and Iwobi in the squad is very sneaky of him. Are we saving Per for the back 3 next game or are we saving Iwobi for the a 4-2-3-1 formation? Exciting stuff!
Looks like a strong line up to me! That Front three should wreak some havoc
Let’s hope they rise to the bate.
A more serious lineup than I expected! I’m all out to be entertained tonight regardless of the scoreline. I’d have preferred starts for Eddie and Nelson though… And in their right positions!
Coyg still!
Having looked at their squad list, I’m afraid I can’t see past BATE Borisov for tonight’s.
I have to admit, i’m worried about the Splatch coming off the bench to bag a late winner…
I see, Merts is being saved for that Premier league back 3. Good move…
Although I’m not a big fan of Walcott anymore, it will be refreshing to see what he can do in what should be an easy home fixture on paper.
Nice bench, but I do fear for Akpom, he’s become an Afobe. I think he’d want to leave as soon as possible to save his career
McCringleberry is their secret weapon off the bench, but really, I think we should easily master BATE.
ha, you beat me to it!
Great minds obviously think alike, that was going to be my line.
I dunno, The Splatch looks pretty deadly too…
Just wait til their subs cum on..
Yeah we should never have released McCringleberry, Wenger’s biggest mistake.
He was a late bloomer–how was Wenger to know?
i’m worried about McCringleberry coming on as a 2nd half sub and causing us problems. he’s dangerous.
Why we never bought McCringleberry all those years ago I do not know. In the right hands he is a truly World Class player, the next Henry.
Long live McCringleberry.
I hear rumours he’s our top target this Jan and our new scout thinks he’s the best player he has seen since Bringkly-Von-Moosechips
huh? we’ve already won the group. Why not put some kids in the game like a Mickey Mouse Cup squad?
Exactly! Cut the foreplay and play Nketiah and Nelson. Can’t imagine anyone paid their ticket tonight to watch the likes of Theo anyway 😉
The BATEr’s are leaving The Splatch on the bench? They’re clearly not taking this one seriously
Wow! That’s a strong team. Wouldn’t mind seeing a 7-0 thrashing handed out but I
Would have loved for Nelson/Nketiah to start but can’t fault Wenger for this team, obviously wants to keep his 2nd team happy and sharp.
I hope McCringleberry gets a few minutes at the end, I’m dying to see what all the hype is about. Perhaps he’ll still be a target for us next summer.
Coq and elneny again together?! God, have we not suffered enough last time…
Wilshere can have the centre stage. Games are coming thick and fast, that a Wilshere (who has master BATE -ed and is) at the top of his game will be very handy.
Reg n Ted, a fearsome combination.
It could be a long night.
I didn’t think Ted was fit to start for them? We should still have enough to claim top spot hopefully? ?
This is not a back four – surely Coquelin will play as the middle CB again.
Agree on it not being a back for, but I think Elneny will be the middle cb.
I stand corrected!
Apparently Arsene said in his programme notes that he’s playing a back four. Can anyone verify?
Good to see the Jeff
Oh Blogs this is why I love this site! Come on McCringleberry show us what u got!
Not a back 4. Coq will play as the 3rd CB. Chambers and Maitland Niles are our wing backs.
I suppose Debuchy can be a third wing back then.
I do think that’s good to go to 3 in the middle. Although a season ticket holder, living 100 miles away it’s difficult to have the enthusiasm to go all that way for this game, or, indeed, for the West Ham League Cup game, the 2nd team is not very inspiring. Went to the amazing Cologne game, which was memorable.
I wonder if he is going to a back 4 again after watching our attacking play on Saturday when Mustafi came off… Hmm
are we sure this is a back 4, couldn’t we see le Coq or Elneny in the center of a back 3?
Just wonderin’…..is the live blog no more? Is it an Ex-live blog? Is the live blog deceased? Have you nailed it to the perch? Or is it just pining for the Fjords?
Debuchy scoring! Time to masterbate.
Bate team is like a Herbert team from the 30’s! None of the double-barrelled nonsense, save for The Splash, in Herbert we trusted.
Not surprised with selection under than Holding and Chambers together in back 4.
They communicated very well but protection ahead of them also helped.
Liked Chambers no nonsense approach and young Holding composed as ever.
Wenger certainly grooming for near future here with both Per retiring and Koscielny getting older showing wear and tear.