Vitoria de Guimaraes vs Arsenal
Europa League
Date: Wednesday, 6 October 2019
Kick-off at 15:50 UK / 16:50 CET
Venue: Estádio D. Afonso Henriques (Guimarães).
TEAM NEWS
Vitoria Guimaraes
Predicted line-up (4-3-3): Douglas Jesus; Rochinha, Tapsoba, Pedrao, Hanin; Lucas Evangelista, Aug, Joao Carlos; Edwards, Bruno Duarte, Andre Pereira
Not available: Jhonatan (Injured), Miguel Oliveira (Hurt), Sacko (Hurt), Bondarenko (Hurt), Andre Andre (Hurt), Wakaso (Hurt), John (Hurt), Amoah (Injured)
doubtful:
ARSENAL
Predicted line-up (4-1-2-1-2): Leno; Chambers, Sokratis, David Luiz, Tierney; Guendouzi; Torreira, Dani Ceballos; Ozil; Lacazette, Aubameyang
Not available: Nelson (Injured)
Doubtful: Xhaka (personal reasons)
Opta stats
Vitoria only won one of their previous eight meetings with English teams in all competitions (D3 L4), beating Aston Villa 1-0 in September 1983.
Arsenal have only won one of their seven away games against Portuguese sides (D3 L3), though it was like their last match at Sporting in the Europa League last season.
Vitoria looking to avoid four consecutive defeats in all European competition for the first time since September 1998.
Arsenal are looking to win four games in their first group stage campaign Europa League or the Champions League for the second time, won their first five in the 2005-06 Champions League.
Gabriel Martinelli has scored in both of his Europa League match for Arsenal this season. The only player to have scored in each of his first three games in the major European competitions for the Gunners is Marouane Chamakh in 2010.
PREDICTION
Europa League matches being played on Wednesday to reduce pressure on the city, with Braga at home on Thursday. It is also an afternoon kick-off as the Champions League and Europa League matches are not allowed to overlap.
Vitoria de Guimaraes were very unlucky not to beat Arsenal at the Emirates last time in competition, such as Nicolas Pepe scored two late free-kick to win the game 3-2 for the Premier League outfit.
NOS Liga outfit have lost just one home game all season, falling to a 1-0 defeat to Frankfurt earlier in the group stage of the competition.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last four games but have drawn their last three. The Gunners have won just one of their last six on the road.
