Arsenal v Zurich predictions: Confident Gunners set to cut loose

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

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm Thursday

Best bet

Arsenal to win 3-0
1pt 13-2 Hills

Arsenal to win 4-0
1pt 9-1 Hills

Team news

Arsenal
Emile Smith Rowe will be out until after the World Cup and Mohamed Elneny and Oleksandr Zinchenko have yet to resume full training. Bukayo Saka is unlikely to be risked after picking up a knock but goalkeeper Matt Turner could return to the bench. Granit Xhaka serves a one-match suspension.

Zurich
Donis Avdijaj, Blerim Dzemaili and Mirlaid Kryeziu – who all faced Arsenal in Switzerland – are out injured, as are Miguel Reichmuth and Ilan Sauter. Nikola Katic is a doubt after coming off with a knock at the weekend.

Match preview

After slipping up at PSV Eindhoven last Thursday, Arsenal now need to beat Zurich to guarantee they finish top of Europa League Group A and avoid the playoff round.

While qualification is already guaranteed, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be keen to go straight through to the round of 16 to avoid extra games and extra peril in the playoffs.

The Gunners’ head coach will be frustrated to have something riding on the final fixture having dominated the section, but Zurich offer minimal threat.

The visitors are suffering a nightmare campaign, sitting bottom not only of their Europa League group but also bottom of the Swiss Super League having taken just nine points from 14 domestic league fixtures.

Until last week’s 2-1 victory over Bodo/Glimt, FCZ had gone 13 matches without a win in all competitions, leaving them pointless in Group A, six points adrift of second-from-bottom Winterthur in the Super League and out of their domestic cup.

Two wins in a week under recently appointed head coach Bo Henriksen may have lifted morale, but any fragile confidence is sure to be shattered tonight.

Arsenal have won each of their last 11 home games – largely against visitors far superior to Zurich – and while Arteta will continue rotating his squad for Europa League clashes, his back-up players have been largely excellent this term.

Victories to nil in both meetings with Bodo/Glimt, a 1-0 home win over PSV 1-0 and a 2-1 win in Zurich sets them up nicely to finish the job at the Emirates.

Key stat

Arsenal have scored an average of 2.88 goals per game at home this season.

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