Key occasions
14 minutes: Martinelli decides the perfect thought is to aim an overhead kick with the ball bouncing slowly in his path. Evidently, it goes badly and the ball loops huge.
12 minutes: Arsenal up the tempo, shifting the ball rapidly out to the appropriate from the place Marquinhos crosses onto the unmarked Martinelli’s head however he flicks it huge.
10 minutes: Zurich are entering into Arsenal’s faces to maintain them in their very own half and the Gunners are usually not shifting the ball fast sufficient to interrupt the press.
The Zurich goalkeeper has had a spare of gloves delivered to him … simply in case.
8 minutes: Extra idiocy from Arsenal as goalkeeper Turner dithers on the ball on the byline, ultimately passing it straight to a Zurich participant who whacks the ball off the publish through a deflection. The following nook is then flapped at by Turner who offers one other one away. Not an encouraging begin on his debut.
6 minutes: Zurich break on Arsenal after one of many worst free-kicks in historical past. The Gunners look to play it quick simply contained in the Zurich half however they provide the ball away cheaply and are caught out. Fortunately for Arsenal, they get numbers again in time to finish the assault.
4 minutes: Marquinhos cuts inside from the appropriate and appears to select the run of Tierney into the field however there may be just a bit an excessive amount of tempo on the cross and the keeper collects.
In the meantime in France …
(1/2) Sadly the sport between ourselves and Good has been delayed because of violent clashes between the fan teams within the stadium and on the stands. We’re at the moment discussing the background, a UEFA safety assembly is going down. #OGCKOE
— 1. FC Cologne (@fckoeln_en) September 8, 2022
2 minutes: There’s loads of flag waving within the stands and a flare has been let off however it’s all fairly pedestrian on the pitch.
Kick-off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Right here we go!
They may not be at residence however the Zurich followers have made a stunning tifo behind one objective. The gamers are out on the pitch. Arsenal in a snazzy navy quantity.
The sport this night is going down in St Gallen as a result of there may be some athletics happening in Zurich.
Arsenal have made seven adjustments from the weekend. Nketiah begins for Arsenal and Arteta has informed him to do his speaking on the pitch to indicate he can compete with Gabriel Jesus. It will likely be enjoyable to see what Marquinhos affords, too.
And for one thing a bit completely different … the Guardian’s personal Karen Carney on main the federal government evaluate into ladies’s soccer.
Arteta is aiming excessive.
Groups
Zurich: Brecher, Kamberi, Kryeziu, Aliti, Boranijasevic, Dzemaili, Selnaes, Guerrero, Krasniqi, Aiyegun, Okita. Subs: Kostadinovic, Omeragic, Santini, Marchesano, Hornschuh, Conde, Avdijaj, Vyunnyk, Rohner, Hodza, Mets, De Nitti.
Arsenal: Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Marquinhos, Sambi Lokonga, Xhaka, Tierney, Vieira, Martinelli, Nketiah. Subs: Ramsdale, White, Saka, Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Saliba, Zinchenko, Smith, Hein, Cirjan, Cozier-Duberry.
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim (Sweden)
Hi there
Arsenal are again in European motion. They missed out on continental soccer final season however Mikel Arteta led them to fifth place and qualification for Thursday night time enjoyable.
Arteta is aiming excessive and desires to win the Europa League, a daring claiming going into their group stage opener in opposition to Zurich. The Swiss champions have did not win of their opening seven league video games this season, so needs to be ripe for selecting for an in-form Arsenal workforce.
They final gained a European trophy when Alan Smith downed Parma within the 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup. Gabriel Jesus is their newest No 9 aiming to main them to some superb silverware, a striker that has introduced a profitable mentality from Manchester Metropolis and shall be aiming to show it in Europe.
It’s at instances like this we take a look at who we would know from the Zurich facet. Let me begin (and end) with Blerim Džemaili who had a spell at Bolton within the late noughties. Admittedly, he didn’t play a single league recreation for the membership however actually loved himself in Lancashire. He went onto to play for Napoli, so possibly Huge Sam was incorrect in regards to the midfielder. At 36, he’s nonetheless going robust.
Kick-off: 5.45pm BST.
