Football Results

On Thursday evening will be played all quarter-final matches of the Europa League and in the first of them English Arsenal meets Russian vice-champion CSKA Moscow at the Emirates stadium in London. The match comes for both teams after four-game winning streaks. Arsenal and CSKA met in the group phase of the 2006 Champions League and then CSKA won 1-0 at home, while match in London ended goalless

Arsenal

Now, Arsenal management announced that the team will give its best in order to finally win the Muscovites at home, especially as the 2nd leg will take place in the Russian capital in just seven days. The Gunners from London have confirmed their qualities in previous round of the Europa League when they won both matches with Milan, while in last two league matches they won Watford and Stoke by 3-0 at home.

True, six new points have only solidify Arsenal’s grip over the sixth place in the Premiership table, while right now this team lags behind positions that lead to the Champions League by even 13 points, so winning the Europa League is their only chance to play in the elite UEFA league next year. Regarding problems with the team that will face the Muscovites, due to injuries just two players are out of action goalkeeper Cech and midfielder Cazorla, while forward Aubameyang is not eligible to play.

Probable lineups Arsenal: Ospina – Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal – Ramsey, Xhaka – Mkhitaryan, Wilshere, Ozil – Lacazette

CSKA Moscow

Regarding one of teams with most title in Russia it had started the European season in the Champions League but it ended only at the third place in its qualifying group and consequently it continued competing in the Europa League next spring. In the first round CSKA routinely dispatched Serbian champion Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, while after that it struggled in the round of 16 with French Lyon but in the end it went further thanks to more goals scored away.

The 1st leg with Lyon played in Moscow had ended as Lyon’s victory 1-0 but in the 2nd leg team led by manager Goncharenko played excellently and won 3-2. On top of it, CSKA won last three league matches and right now it occupies the third place in the Russian Premier League, where it has three points fewer than 2nd-placed Spartak and five less than leading Lokomotiv. Let’s add that due to injuries match at the Emirates will skip defenders Fernandes and Vasin, while forward Nababkin is suspended.

Probable lineups CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev – V. Berezutski,  Ignashevich, A. Berezutski – Kuchaev, Dzagoev, Natcho, Golovin, Schennikov – Wernbloom, Musa

Verdict:

Of course that the Gunners from London are regarded as great favourites to win this quarter-final match of the Europa League but the Muscovites are also in a fairly good shape lately and will surely put up a good fight at the Emirates.

Pick:  under 3 goals 1.64 - 64/100 @1XBet