Arsenal to progress to EL last 32 with win

Standard Liège vs Arsenal - 12/12/2019

4759

Arsenal are in crisis still, but interim manager Freddie Ljungberg could have them turning the corner. The Gunners ended a nine-match winless streak in all competitions on Monday night with a victory over West Ham, 3-1.

The Gunners simply need to win or draw to progress to the Europa League’s last 32. Standard Liege, on the other hand, are fighting for a place in the final 32 and could go level on points with Arsenal with a win.

Ljungberg goes to Liege with defensive issues. Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney, and Hector Bellerin are all suffering from injuries at the Emirates. Tierney suffered a shoulder problem against West Ham and went to the hospital following the fixture.

Bellerin has a hamstring issue but the seriousness has not been detailed. Holding has a left knee bruise and may not make the trip to Belgium. Ljungberg will need to juggle his defence.

The good news for the interim boss is the team’s attack has been good under his stewardship. Arsenal have scored an average of 2.0 goals per game under Ljungberg. He deployed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gabriel Martinelli, and Nicolas Pepe in the attack against West Ham.

All three scored goals while Mesut Ozil played behind Aubameyang and pulled the attacking strings. Ljungberg may play a similar team to ensure qualification to the final 32 of the Europa League. He did rest Alexandre Lacazette and Bukayo Saka on Monday night and they could come into the team.

Standard Liege are in good form unbeaten in five straight matches in all competitions. They slipped up on matchday 5 in the Europa League drawing with Vitoria de Guimaraes, 1-1. That draw could be the ultimate reason Standard Liege do not progress.

Arsenal routed Standard Liege the last time these teams met in the Europa League. The Gunners won 5-0 at the Emirates as former manager Unai Emery had the team hitting on all cylinders. Things have changed greatly in the last two months.

Ljungberg could be overseeing his final week of football at the Emirates. Arsenal are linked with several coaches including former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian was sacked by Napoli on Tuesday night following the club’s Champions League win over Genk.

Arsenal are still in a mess but should win against Standard Liege on Thursday night. The Gunners were good against Standard Liege in their previous meeting and should once again put goals past the Belgians.

Their defensive issues may see Standard Liege get on the score sheet with over 2.5 goals going into the goals. Arsenal will win and progress to the last 32 of the competition once more.

Home team
Away team

Probability %

1X2

Pred

Correct score

Avg. goals

Weather conditions

Coef.

Score

Live
coef.

UEL

Standard Liège Arsenal 12/12/2019 18:55

292843

2

1 - 3

3.10

4°

2.05

3.40 4.00 2.05 1 1 -1

FT

2 - 2(0 - 0)

-

- - -