Arsenal will welcome Bodo-Glimt to Emirates Stadium this Thursday as both sides battle for three points in Group
Venue: Emirates Stadium (London)
Key Statistics
Arsenal have five wins in six prior games against Norwegian opposition (D1).
They have won their last three games against Norwegian sides, scoring 13 times and conceding twice.
The hosts have their last seven games at home.
They have scored 2+ goals in each of their last seven home games.
Bodo/Glimt have won none of their last seven European away games (D3, L4).
The visitors have lost just one of their last five games.
Head to head
This is the first meeting between both sides.
Latest performances in all competitions
Arsenal: W-W-W-L-W
Bodo/Glimt: W-D-W-L-D
Arsenal
Four days after their impressive showing in the North London derby, After Arsenal will turn their attention to their Europa League campaign where they play their second game of the campaign after being unable to play in the last round.
The hosts beat Antonio Conte’s Tottenham side 3-1 last Saturday thanks to goals from Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus and Granit Xhaka. The win ensured that they kept their place at the top of the Premier League table after eight rounds of games.
In Europe, the Gunners were due to play Dutch side PSV in the second round of the group stage, but could not play the game due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II that week. And so they find themselves playing catch-up in Group A, one point behind group leaders Bodo/Glimt after the Gunners won their first game against FC Zurich.
Their game in hand will come soon enough, but the visit of Bodø/Glimt is the first hurdle Mikel Arteta’s side Arsenal must overcome, and with five wins in six prior games against Norwegian opposition (D1), one might fully expect them to do so.
The Gunners have been firing on all cylinders when Norwegian sides have previously visited North London, clocking up a whopping 13-2 aggregate victory across three home encounters (W3). Given that they have now won their last seven games at the Emirates Stadium, they will fancy their chances of getting another win against a Norwegian team.
Possible Arsenal starting line-up
Aaron Ramsdale; Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Gabriel, Kieran Tierney; Granit Xhaka, Albert Sambi-Lokonga; Bukayo Saka, Pablo Vieira, Gabriel Martinelli; Eddie Nketiah.
Injured: Emile Smith Rowe, Mohamed Elneny
Doubtful: Cedric Soares
Suspended: None
Bodo/Glimt
Bodo/Glimt caught the attention of Europe last season when they defeated AS Roma twice in the UEFA Europa Conference League on their run to the quarter-finals.
But this season, they have stepped up to the Europa League after missing out on the UEFA Champions League when they were beaten by Dinamo Zagreb in the playoffs. Their foray into the UEL has been impressive as they sit on top of Group A after winning one and drawing one of their two group games.
Their most recent EUL outing was a 2-1 win over FC Zurich and forms part of their three-game unbeaten run heading into this tie (W2, D1).
The perennial underdogs Bodø/Glimt are once again out to defy all odds. Their good run in the competition this year has undoubtedly been aided by fast starts that saw them strike first in both contests against Zurich and PSV.
With a 15-point gap between them and the Norwegian league, table-toppers Molde Bodø/Glimt can now focus their attention on the UEL where they hope to finish at least in second place behind group favourites Arsenal. But with no win in their last seven European away games (D3, L4), Bodø/Glimt may find themselves knocked off the top in the UEL when they travel to London on Thursday.
Possible Bodo/Glimt starting line-up
Nikita Haikin; Alfons Sampsted, Brede Moe, Marius Hoibraaten, Brice Wembangomo; Albert Gronbeck, Ulrik Saltnes, Hugo Vetlesen; Amahl Pellegrino, Runar Espejord, William Pellegrino.
Injured: Sondre Fet
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Arsenal 2-1 Bodo/Glimt
