Arsenal can secure top spot in Group A of the Europa League by avoiding defeat against PSV Eindhoven on Thursday.
The Gunners secured their qualification to the knockout stages with last week’s 1-0 victory over the Dutch outfit in September’s rearranged fixture, making it four wins from four having already seen off FC Zurich and Bodo/Glimt home and away.
PSV will be looking to make amends for last week’s narrow defeat in north London, however, and must win this fixture to secure their place in the next round. A defeat could mean their final group game with Bodo/Glimt next week becomes a winner-takes-all affair.
When is PSV vs Arsenal?
PSV vs Arsenal will kick-off at 5:45pm (BST) on Thursday, October 27 at the 36,500-capacity Philips Stadion in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
The last meeting between these two sides came in last week’s reverse fixture, as the Gunners secured a 1-0 victory over their visitors at the Emirates Stadium.
The two sides could not be separated during the first half, but Granit Xhaka’s 70th minute strike proved to be the difference as Arsenal secured all three points to advance to the knockout stages.
Will Arsenal beat PSV on Thursday to secure top spot in their Europa League group? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
How to watch
The match will be televised live on BT Sport 2, while there will also be a live stream service online via the BT Sport app and BT Sport website.
Coverage will begin at 5:15pm.
Match odds
PSV vs Arsenal odds from Betfred
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PSV - 15/8
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Draw - 11/4
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Arsenal - 11/8
*odds subject to change
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Team news
This has now become a must-win game for PSV to be sure of their place in the knockout rounds, especially with Bodo/Glimt expected to defeat FC Zurich in the other group game to put further pressure on Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side ahead of their clash next week.
Phillipp Mwene and Erick Gutierrez will look to return to the side after being dropped to the bench for Sunday’s surprise 4-2 defeat at Groningen, but Yorbe Vertessen (muscle), Ismael Saibari (hamstring), Kjell Peersman (back) and Olivier Boscagli (knee) all remain out of contention. Arsenal summer transfer target Cody Gakpo will be the main talking point in attack once more.
Despite Arsenal already securing their place in the knockout rounds, it would be no surprise to see Mikel Arteta name a relatively strong side for this fixture to deal with PSV’s undoubted quality, and could use a similar side to the one which defeated their opponents last week.
Nonetheless, the likes of Matt Turner, Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Fabio Vieira and Eddie Nketiah should all return to start, while Granit Xhaka, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus could retain their places at the same time. Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) remains a doubt, as does Marquinhos (illness), but Emile Smith Rowe (groin) and Mohamed Elneny (thigh) are out.
