Arsenal, the undisputed leaders of the Premier League, were due to host Manchester City today, second to four points, in a summit clash but the match has been postponed to tomorrow’s clash with the ‘gunners’ against PSV Eindhoven in the Emirates.
This meeting, which corresponds to the group stage of the Europa League, was scheduled for September 15 but was postponed due to the lack of sufficient security personnel on the occasion of the events after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Despite this pending commitment, Mikel Arteta’s team are also leaders of group A with 9 points from a possible 9, while Ruud van Nistelrooy’s PSV are second with 7. Bodö/Glimt are third with 3 and Zürich shut down the group, which hadn’t but taken out his locker after four days.
Key double showdown for first place
It is, therefore, a key game for the first place in the group, which will give direct access to the round of 16, while the second must play a playoff. PSV and Arsenal meet again, this time at the Philips Stadion, on Thursday next week.
Arteta revealed that left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko and Brazilian striker Gabriel Martinelli did not participate in today’s training session and will remain doubtful until the last minute.
Zinchenko and Martinelli, until the last minute
Zinchenko has not played since Arsenal-Tottenham on October 1 with a muscle injury, but Arteta ruled him out for tomorrow, allaying fears that the winger, who signed this summer from Manchester City, will not to play again until the end of the World Cup.
For his part, Martinelli played on Sunday in Arsenal’s win against Leeds (0-1), but he has minor muscle problems. “No, they are not ruled out, but we will see tomorrow what we decide,” Arteta said in a press conference.
The Basque manager considers it vital that Arsenal consolidate their lead and open up a five-point gap ahead of next week’s match in Eindhoven.
“It’s really important. In Europe, when you have the opportunity to take advantage, you have to do it because it’s always very unpredictable what can happen in the next game,” Arteta said.
Arteta praises PSV’s play and goalscoring
The Arsenal manager highlighted PSV: “From what I can tell from watching them and from what they do nationally and internationally, it will be a very difficult game. They are a very good team. What what Ruud did, the way they played, the number of goals he scored, it’s really dangerous.”
Van Nistelrooy’s side are also second in the Eredivisie, one point behind leaders Ajax, after scoring 35 goals in 10 games. The top two scorers in the championship are Coady Gakpo, with 9, and Xavi Simons with 8. The player who emerged from Barça’s academy has had a good start to the season after joining PSV at the end of his PSG contract.
Another former Azugrana, striker Luuk de Jong, returned to the squad after being sidelined with a muscle injury since August 24.
Source: La Verdad
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