ST GALLEN, SWITZERLAND - SEPTEMBER 08: Blerim Dzemaili of FC Zurich is challenged by Albert Sambi Lokonga of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League group A match between FC Zürich and Arsenal FC at Kybunpark on September 08, 2022 in St Gallen, Switzerland. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)
Arsenal vs FC Zurich: 3 things to look out for as top spot beckons
by Adam Schultz
The last Europa League Group stage game is upon us. Arsenal, needing a win, take on FC Zurich at the Emirates, a team they beat 2-1 in the corresponding fixture.
There’s a little more on the line this time.
With three points, Mikel Arteta’s men will top Group A and avoid the knockout play-off round. With an already condensed schedule, that’s a nice incentive to win.
After steadying the ship after back-to-back poor results, the Gunners will now look to end their group stage campaign on a high.
Matchday 6 🔜
What'll happen during the final group stage games? 🤔#UEL
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) October 31, 2022
Easier said than done, as Zurich caused Arsenal some problems last time. But on their home deck, the Gunners should be getting three points.
Arsenal vs FC Zurich: 3 things to look out for as top spot beckons
Here are three things to look for on Thursday.
1. Can Arsenal win when they HAVE to?
For all of the Gunners’ success this year, this will be the first time something of note is on the line. Aside from bragging rights over Tottenham and Liverpool, Thursday’s clash is a MUST-win match (presuming PSV prevail in Bodø).
There has been a lot of talk about Arsenal’s newfound mentality. Can they do it? Well, we will see just how far they have come on Thursday night.
Against an opposition they are expected to beat; at home and with top spot on the line, the last thing Arteta would want is a poor performance.
Continued on the next slide…
#UEL</a></p>
<p>— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"https://twitter.com/EuropaLeague/status/1587021813413978113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>October 31, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Easier said than done, as Zurich caused Arsenal some problems last time. But on their home deck, the Gunners should be getting three points.</p>
<h2>Arsenal vs FC Zurich: 3 things to look out for as top spot beckons</h2>
<p>Here are three things to look for on Thursday.</p>
<h2>1. Can Arsenal win when they HAVE to?</h2>
<p>For all of the Gunners’ success this year, this will be the first time something of note is on the line. Aside from bragging rights over Tottenham and Liverpool, Thursday’s clash is a MUST-win match (presuming PSV prevail in Bodø).</p>
<p>There has been a lot of talk about Arsenal’s newfound mentality. Can they do it? Well, we will see just how far they have come on <a title="Arsenal vs FC Zurich preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news & prediction" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/01/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-preview-watch-team-news-prediction/" rel="">Thursday night</a>.</p>
<p>Against an opposition they are expected to beat; at home and with top spot on the line, the last thing Arteta would want is a poor performance.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 thing to look for </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_130630" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" class="wp-image-130630 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2135,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1244364174-1.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2135" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1244364174-1.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1244364174-1-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Bukayo Saka should make Thursday’s squad. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2. Arteta’s team selection</h2>
<p>This is said every week. But this one holds a little more weight. A chance to win the group and avoid some of the big teams in the competition is up for grabs.</p>
<p>But also, Arsenal face Chelsea at the weekend, and Mikel Arteta will not want to have a tired squad for the trip to Stamford Bridge.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨| Bukayo Saka, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mohamed Elneny have all returned to full training. 💪 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"https://t.co/gLTGF6I1yW">pic.twitter.com/gLTGF6I1yW
<p>— AFCnewsroom (@TheAFCnewsroom) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"https://twitter.com/TheAFCnewsroom/status/1587813023988817921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>November 2, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Arsenal should win regardless, shouldn’t they?</p>
<p>This promises to be his most tricky <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/02/predicted-arsenal-xi-vs-fc-zurich-odegaard-vieira-midfield/">team selection</a> yet. Go for the win and potentially burn out for the Chelsea game or play it safe and possibly lose the group to PSV.</p>
<p>Hmm, decisions.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 thing to look for </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_130629" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-130629 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1244364358.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1244364358.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1244364358-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Granit Xhaka is suspended for Thursday’s game. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>3. The energy levels</h2>
<p>Arsenal are approaching the end of what can only be described as a gruelling run of fixtures. Since October 1, the Gunners have played nine games with minimal rotation.</p>
<p>There are only four games before the football world stops for the World Cup. Four games to push through and get results.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The World Cup is coming at a good time for Arsenal – fatigue and injuries are highlighting the lack of depth and there’s definitely been a drop in performance. If we can scrape together 3 victories of the next 4 (with one against Zurich) we’ll have done exceptionally well.</p>
<p>— Chris Godfrey (@ChrisPJGodfrey) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"https://twitter.com/ChrisPJGodfrey/status/1585893196164276224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>October 28, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Arsenal looked a little leggy before Sunday’s rout over Nottingham Forest, and the results suffered. Four games between Thursday night and November 13. That’s the assignment.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="MD0b6tZmvl"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/02/everything-need-know-arsenal-target-facundo-torres/">Everything you need to know about Arsenal target Facundo Torres</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/03/arsenal-vs-fc-zurich-3-things-look/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/02/everything-need-know-arsenal-target-facundo-torres/embed/#?secret=MD0b6tZmvl" data-secret="MD0b6tZmvl" width="500" height="282" title="“Everything you need to know about Arsenal target Facundo Torres” — Pain in the Arsenal" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div>
<p>But given what is at stake, Arsenal need those energy levels up to secure top spot in Group A.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
