Arsenal is getting ready to resume action in the Europa League on Thursday with a Round of 32 1st Leg match v S.L. Benfica. Due to COVD-19 travel restrictions, in and out of the UK, the match will be played in Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.
Benfica is a talented side. 19 matches into their Primeira Liga season, the Portuguese side is currently 4th in their league, winning 11, drawing 5 and losing just 3 matches. As in any European knockout competition, the sledding will be a challenging ride down the hill for the Gunners.
On the other side of this match, the Gunners will have just a few days to prepare for Premier League-leading Manchester City at The Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
However, before we get to that match, let’s focus on the one on Thursday.
With that said, here is who I think Mikel Arteta will start vs S.L. Benfica…
[4-2-3-1]
Lacazette
Pepe, Odegaard, Willian
Xhaka, Elneny
Soares, Mari, Holding, Bellerin
Ryan
Predicted final score…
Benfica 1 – ARSENAL 3
COYG!
David Raya has been voted Arsenal’s Player of the Month for May by the readers of Arsenal.com.
Max Dowman has been nominated for the PFA’s Young Player of the Year Award.
Jurrien Timber has withdrawn from the Netherland’s World Cup squad to recover from his nagging groin injuries.
Team Talk is reporting Arsenal is expected to finish the permanent transfer of Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen. 
