FC Zürich Preview—Time to win this group already.

Our visitors have proven to be a tough nut to crack for everyone except PSV, who battered them by a combined scoreline of 10-1. Saka, Zinchenko, and Elneny back in training. Their other three results have all been tough 2-1 scorelines—two losses and then a well-earned 2-1 win over Bodø/Glimt that ended the Norwegian club's chance at advancing past the group stage. Can they put a dent in our campaign to win the group? We'll need a win because a draw would allow PSV, who hold the tie-break over us, to win the group. I previously suggested we rotate for this one but now wonder if we should go with a stronger lineup to ensure we avoid Barca or Juve (should the Italians manage to finish third).

Gooners want Arteta OUT NOW after SHOCK loss to PSV!

Just so we're clear—I only capitalised "PSV" because it's already done that way. Don't shout it out like the other capitalised words. Go back and re-read the title again. I'll wait.

Welcome back.

Be careful what you ask for, or something like that. My match preview asked for rotation, even at a risk of losing the match, believing that Saka, Martinelli, Jesus, Partey, and Ødegaard were looking leggy. For a good hour, I got the best of both worlds: just two of these players started, and our new defensive strategy—let VAR bail us out—was working. However, it all went somewhat sideways soon after that, and we now occupy a precarious perch just two points from our hostile hosts. We now face much what amounts to a must-win against FC Zürich.

PSV vs. Arsenal: Squeaky Bums and Fading Spirits...

So here we are. A draw or a win secures top spot in Group A. Even a loss, as long as we somehow manage to overcome winless FC Zürich when they come to visit next week, lets us take that precious top spot, thereby avoiding the likes of Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, or Juventus. Barca are already in the Europa League, and Atleti and Juve still have fading hopes. Heck, even Tottenham could find their way back to their favorite tournament that they never win. Anything can happen. First, though, we have to sort out our own situation. I'll put it to you plainly: we should rotate heavily and let the chips fall where they may. Short version: our moderately strong side, including Saka and Jesus as starters, laboured its way to a 1-0 win at home. Going into Philips Stadion will likely present a stiffer challenge. I'm not usually one to throw in a towel, but we're running on fumes at the moment. 

Arsenal v. PSV Eindhoven: Vengeance. Sweet vengeance.

Okay, so there may not be quite this level of animosity...

Here it is, then—our spiciest Europa League encounter to date. Okay, so a certain Ruud van Nistelrooy is unlikely to strike the crossbar with a potentially game-deciding penalty. On the other hand, he has assembled a pacy, energetic side that has feasted on recent opponents, scoring 24 goals in their last six matches (although this does include 10 against hapless FC Zürich). On the other, other hand, their recent 3-0 loss to Cambuur in the Eredivisie—a relegation straggler that had lost its previous four matches—suggests that this young squad (average age 24.0, younger than Arsenal's 24.6) is capable of some mood swings. They had, after all, defeated Feyenoord in a wild 4-3 match just before this.