PSV never really got going against Arsenal at their North London headquarters last Thursday, and Ruud van Nistelrooy would have been relieved to see the Gunners win by just the one goal – Granit Xhaka’s first-ever scored with the right-footed since joining the club.Arsenal hold a five-point lead over their second-placed Dutch counterparts and Mikel Arteta’s men need just a point to seal a first-placed finish in Europa League Group A with a game to spare.A place in the knockout round playoffs should now be the goal for Van Nistelrooy’s side, who could guarantee a second-placed finish with a point if the scoreline in Bodo/Glimt’s clash with Zurich goes their way. However, the spirits are not that high at PSV who lost 4-2 to Groningen in the Eredivisie at the weekend.##EDITORS_CHOICE##What could act as a boost for tonight’s hosts is the fact that they love playing at their Phillips Stadion where they won five and draw one of their last six in all tournaments.Also, lately, Arsenal are struggling to kill games off and that lack of ruthlessness cost the Gunners dear during their trip to Southampton. It could have ended quite similar in tight 1-0 wins over Bodo/Glimt and Leeds United where the Gunners had trouble with asserting their dominance.Arsenal have failed to win on their last two visits to PSV Eindhoven’s turf – losing 1-0 in the last 16 of the 2006-07 Champions League after playing out a 1-1 draw in 2004-05 – and one can only hope that football takes centre stage rather than a repeat of the fan disorder which marred last week’s Emirates clash.PSV Vs Arsenal September 25th 2002@Arsenal @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/ulXC5aZSZ7— The N5 History (@TheN5News) October 27, 2022 As for the fitness news – Van Nistelrooy remains without Yorbe Vertessen (muscle), Ismael Saibari (muscle), Kjell Peersman (back) and Olivier Boscagli (knee) for the visit of the Gunners, but Marco van Ginkel is fit again after a hamstring issue.Noni Madueke, Mauro Junior and Luuk de Jong are all close to full strength. Madueke should not be considered for a start just yet either having missed a number of months with an ankle injury. Erick Gutierrez and Phillipp Mwene are in line to return, and Xavi Simons should again be expected to star in the attacking half.Arteta has spoken about the importance of his side securing a first-placed finish in the group and will be expected to go strong here, but Matt Turner, Kieran Tierney, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Fabio Vieira and Rob Holding can still feel confident of earning recalls. The Premier League table toppers have Mohamed Elneny and Emile Smith Rowe still sidelined with their hamstring and groin injuries, while Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) and Marquinhos (illness) both missed training on Wednesday, and the latter is definitely absent.Some big teams have dropped into the Europa League after the results in the Champions League this week. 💬Arteta was asked on the importance of finishing first and avoiding the #UCL drop-outs. 👇#AFC #Arsenal #UEL #PSV pic.twitter.com/gPBqyrqiF9— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) October 27, 2022 EUROPA LEAGUEGroup stage – Round 5Thursday19:45: (3.60) AEK Larnaca (3.20) Dynamo Kyiv (2.30)19:45: (1.90) Union Berlin (3.50) Braga (4.60)19:45: (3.60) Malmo (3.35) St.Gilloise (2.10)19:45: (2.70) Fenerbahce (3.25) Rennes (2.85)19:45: (3.00) Ludogorets (3.30) Betis (2.40)19:45: (3.60) Zurich (3.45) Bodo (2.05)19:45: (1.60) Lazio (4.00) Midtjylland (5.70)19:45: (2.95) PSV (3.50) Arsenal (2.50)22:00: (10.0) Helsinki (5.10) Roma (1.37)22:00: (7.25) Omonia (4.20) Sociedad (1.53)22:00: (3.80) Sturm (3.60) Feyenoord (2.05)22:00: (1.50) Freiburg (4.10) Olympiakos (7.00)22:00: (2.50) Nantes (3.40) Qarabag (3.00)22:00: (2.25) Crvena Zvezda (3.40) Trabzon (3.45)22:00: (1.12) Man.Utd. (9.00) Sheriff Tiraspol (20.0)22:00: (4.00) Ferencvaros (3.60) Monaco (2.00)***odds are subject to change***
