While the champions league has come and gone for another week, the Europa league is back to entertain with its glorious matches. There remains an anxious feeling about this particular week. This is especially true when Arsenal welcomes BATE to the Emirates stadium. The first leg of the game has ended in a 1-0 loss. Arsenal would be giving it their all to make sure that they progress to the next round. BATE, however, would have other ideas coming into this game.
Arsenal
Arsenal has dug themselves into a hole. Their visit to BATE did not go as planned and suddenly, they are heading into the game 1-0 down against BATE. If BATE is to score one in the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal would have to score at least three to qualify for the next round. Unai Emery, the Arsenal coach has asserted that his team may face an uphill struggle to overturn the deficit at the Emirates stadium. The Europa league is very significant to the Arsenal cause this season. It remains their surest way of heading to the champions league next season. A loss here today would not only be bad for them but might just see their best chance slip away from them. With these thoughts lingering in their minds, you can be sure Arsenal would come out all guns blazing.
BATE
BATE would never have thought they would be in this wonderful position after the first round of games. Keeping a clean sheet at home has kept them in solid control of this tie. The away goals rule is set to work in their favor. As they head into this game in the English capital, they would come there with the determination to score at least one to make the job easy for them. They would also be wary of the fact that Arsenal is not a team who would sit back as they have a very potent attacking force. They would hope to keep Arsenal as quiet as possible in a bid to frustrate their game plan.
Form
The form of both teams is fairly the same as when they met last week. Arsenal has won three of their last six games. These wins have displayed an unprecedented pattern of inconsistencies in the league this season. The remaining matches have all ended in losses. Arsenal are aware this is the time to pull themselves together. They would need to score as early as possible if they want to rattle this BATE team.
BATE has picked up form in recent times. They have won three of their last six games. The three games they have won have come consecutively. The remaining match has all ended in losses. BATE is currently on a three-match winning streak. They would be looking to continue this form. However, more important would be to progress to the next round of this competition.
It is a match that promises to go right down to the wire. Despite their loss in BATE, Arsenal remains the undisputed favorites to progress.
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