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Europa League

PSV v Arsenal predictions: Fatigued Gunners could be held in Eindhoven

Visitors can secure top spot in Group A with a draw

Cody Gakpo's PSV can cause problems for Arsenal
Cody Gakpo's PSV can cause problems for ArsenalCredit: BSR Agency

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for PSV v Arsenal in the Europa League on Thursday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 5.45pm

Best bet

Draw
1pt 11-4 bet365

Team news

PSV
Luuk de Jong could make his first start for two months. Erick Gutierrez has shaken off a strain and Marco van Ginkel is fit. Yorbe Vertessen and Ismael Saibari are out.

Arsenal
Emile Smith Rowe and Mohamed Elneny are out and Oleksandr Zinchenko remains a doubt.

Match preview

Fast starters Arsenal are beginning to look a little leggy but they should still be able to negotiate their way through a tricky-looking Europa League trip to PSV Eindhoven.

The Premier League leaders have produced some delicious football over the first couple of months of term. However, the stardust was missing against Leeds and Southampton in the league and at Bodo/Glimt and at home to PSV in the Europa League, as the rigours of the campaign start to take their toll.

In Mikel Arteta's favour is the fact that he can bring in several fresh faces for Arsenal's fifth match of their Group A campaign as a draw would nail down top spot and that outcome looks a tempting bet at 11-4.

PSV, in contrast, may well need to win to ensure they remain in the box seat to make it through to the next stage and they are hit and miss at the moment.

They were generally very good at Groningen on Sunday in the Eredivisie yet still managed to lose 4-2 and many of Ruud van Nistelrooy's men look heavy-legged as well as the Dutch giants have played five games more than the Gunners this season.

The home side boast copious firepower in the form of attacking aces Cody Gakpo, Xavi Simons and fit-again striker Luuk de Jong but they were all well shackled at the Emirates Stadium last week when Arsenal ran out thoroughly deserved 1-0 winners.

PSV are likely to provide a sterner test at the Philips Stadion although even a reshuffled Arsenal starting 11 should stand firm.

Key stat

Arsenal's last four games have produced just five goals.

Inside info

PSV

Penalty taker Cody Gakpo
Assist ace Cody Gakpo
Set-piece aerial threat Armando Obispo
Card magnet Guus Til

Arsenal

Penalty taker Bukayo Saka
Assist ace Bukayo Saka
Set-piece aerial threat Gabriel
Card magnet William Saliba


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