Arsenal take on Dundalk for their second Europa League game. We bring you the stats, team news, and predictions ahead of the fixture.
Arsenal are in need of a win after back to back defeats against Manchester City and Leicester City in the Premier League. The Gunners have an opportunity to restore some positivity with a big win against Dundalk today.
The League of Ireland outfit are competing in the group stage of the Europa League for only the second time. They performed well in their matchday one loss at home to Molde last week. However, a trip to play Arsenal at the Emirates represents a massive leap in difficulty.
With just two defeats in 14 competitive fixtures on their home turf since January 1st, Arsenal have enjoyed plenty of home comforts in North London in 2020.
Mikel Arteta will no doubt want his side to claim a win against Dundalk.
The well-drilled, but low-level, Lilywhites should find it tough to mix it with the Gunners XI at the Emirates.
Arsenal form & Stats
Despite the progress made under Mikel Arteta during the second half of last season, Arsenal are yet to hit full gear so far this season.
Just two victories have been recorded from their last six games, both by 2-1 scorelines against Sheffield United and Rapid Vienna respectively.
Arteta will argue that the Gunners could have won Leicester City at the weekend had they not had a goal controversially ruled out by VAR. However, the lack of response from the North London outfit will concern the Spaniard.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s form has also been criticized of late with the Gabon international scoring just once in his last six appearances.
Like he did last week, Arteta may use this competition to give the versatile attacker an opportunity to get back on track, potentially from the substitutes’ bench with Manchester United to come on Sunday.
After being required to come from behind in Vienna, Arteta will be hoping for a more routine evening against the minnows of the group.
Key Team Stats
- Arsenal lost just two out of 14 matches at the Emirates to date in 2020.
- Arsenal scored 10 goals in three group stage home matches in last season’s competition.
- Arsenal have conceded at least a goal in their last four games.
Dundalk form & Stats
Dundalk looked on course for a win over Molde last week before the Norwegian side netted twice during a 10-minute spell in the second half.
Having also suffered defeat at the hands of Waterford on Sunday, it leaves Filippo Giovagnoli with a major job on his hands to lift his squad ahead of the trip to the 2019 runners-up.
Similar to Arsenal, goals have proven to be an issue in recent weeks with just five coming in as many games, but Giovagnoli will be focused on avoiding a heavy defeat in England’s capital.
Key Team Stats
- Dundalk are competing in the UEL group stage for just the second time.
- Dundalk have scored at least two goals in two of their last three away games.
- Only 2 out of Dundalk’s last six games has seen over 2.5 goals.
Team News
Arsenal: David Luiz, Calum Chambers, Pablo Mari and Rob Holding (out).
Dundalk: Dane Massey (out), Oduwa (doubt).
Predicted Line-ups
(Note: The image will change to the official XI once they’re both announced)
Match facts
Betting tips
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