Ace Football previews the Europa League game between Slavia Prague and Arsenal and offers betting tips, odds, line-ups, and team news.
Arsenal will be hoping to keep their Europa League hopes alive when they travel to take on Slavia Prague for the second leg of their quarter-final tie.
The Gunners were minutes away from claiming a 1-0 first-leg win after Nicolas Pepe’s late opener. However, it turned out to be late despair. Tomas Holes scrambled home right at the death to rescue a 1-1 draw and a priceless away goal for Slavia.
Arsenal now face the daunting task of beating the Czech giants who are unbeaten in their league this season. In the Europa League, they are also yet to lose at home. Sinobo Stadium has been something of a fortress for Slavia. In fact, only Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, and Inter Milan have beaten the Czech outfit at home since the start of the 2019/20 season.
The Gunners will be boosted by the availability of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe. An interesting game is on the cards, one that could effectively define Arsenal’s season.
Slavia Prague Form and Stats
Slavia Prague’s unbeaten run looked like ending in the first leg when conceding four minutes from time. But Tomas Holes salvaged a 1-1 draw with an injury-time equalizer.
That made it 22 games without a defeat, and it soon became 23 when Slavia recorded a 2-0 win over city rivals Sparta Prague on Sunday. Holes and Stanislav Tecl got the goals.
Jindrich Trpisovsky’s Slavia drew at home to Leicester and Rangers in the last two rounds of the Europa League before winning this on aggregate.
- Slavia Prague are undefeated in their last 23 matches (all competitions).
- Slavia Prague have won 16 of their last 23 matches (all competitions).
- Slavia Prague are undefeated in nine of their last 10 matches (UEFA Europa League).
- Slavia Prague have drawn their last two home matches (UEFA Europa League).
Arsenal Form and Stats
Arsenal ended a four-game run without a win after defeating Sheffield United 3-0 in the Premier League on Sunday.
An Alexandre Lacazette double and a Gabriel Martinelli goal gave Mikel Arteta’s side a much-needed boost against bottom-of-the-table Blades.
Last week’s 1-1 draw with Slavia Prague had made it four games without a win for the Gunners, who had also drawn with West Ham 3-3 after trailing 3-0.
Arsenal lost 1-0 at home to Olympiakos in the Europe League (they progressed on aggregate) and went down 3-0 at home to Liverpool in the Premier League.
- Arsenal have won one of their last five matches (all competitions).
- Arsenal have drawn two of their last four matches (all competitions).
- Arsenal have kept one clean sheet in their last 15 matches (all competitions)
Team News
Slavia Prague: Center-back Ondrej Kudela is suspended and David Hovorka is injured. David Zima could partner Tomas Holes in central defense.
Arsenal: Defenders David Luiz and Kieran Tierney are ruled out. Martin Odegaard and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are doubts for the game.
Predicted Line-up
(Note: The image will change to the official XI once they’re both announced)
Head-to-head
Last week’s first leg of this quarter-final ended all square. In the 2007/2008 UEFA Champions League group stages, Arsenal were 7-0 winners at home before playing out a 0-0 draw in Prague.
Match Facts
Betting Tips
Be sure not to miss out on the latest news about Bukayo Saka
Download our brand new App and follow your favorite players, clubs, and much more
