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FC Zurich vs Arsenal preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news & prediction

By James Cormack

Arsenal's English midfielder Bukayo Saka (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on September 4, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's English midfielder Bukayo Saka (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on September 4, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal’s 2022/23 Europa League campaign gets underway on Thursday evening as they travel to Switzerland to take on FC Zurich.

The Gunners were drawn into Group A with the Swiss club along with PSV Eindhoven and FK Bodo/Glimt.

Mikel Arteta’s side have returned to the competition following their fifth-place finish in the Premier League last season and they’re the current bookie’s favourite to go all the way. They’ve started the league season superbly and, despite falling to their first defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday, are sitting at the top of the table through six games.

Arteta will likely give some of his fringe players a chance to shine on Thursday against an FC Zurich side that have dismally begun their domestic season.

New manager Franco Foda is yet to oversee a league victory through seven games and they currently sit second bottom in the Swiss Super League.

FC Zurich vs Arsenal preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news & prediction

Here’s our preview of Arsenal’s Europa League group stage opener away in Zurich on Thursday evening.

How to watch FC Zurich vs Arsenal

When is kick-off? Thursday 8 September

What time is kick-off? 17:45 (BST)

Where is it played? Stadion Letzigrund

TV channel/live stream? BT Sport 2 (UK), Paramount+ (US), DAZN (Canada)

Referee? N/A

FC Zurich Team News

Ilan Sauter and Bohdan Viunnyk will likely be the only absences for the home side.

Aiyegun Tosin will function as FC Zurich’s chief attacking threat following the departures of Wilfried Gnonto and Assan Ceesay. Tosin opened his account against Lugano last weekend.

Fidan Aliti or Nikola Katic could come in for Karol Mets, who struggled in defence on Saturday.

Arsenal Team News

Thomas Partey could return before the international break but he won’t be in Thursday’s matchday squad. He, along with Mohamed Elneny and Reiss Nelson, are sidelined for this fixture.

Emile Smith Rowe is also an injury doubt after he pulled up in the wake of Sunday’s defeat at Old Trafford.

Summer signing Fabio Vieira should make his first start after coming off the bench against United, while the likes of Matt Turner, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Rob Holding, and Marquinhos will all be vying for starts.

FC Zurich vs Arsenal Predicted Lineups

FC Zurich: Brecher; Kryeziu, Omeragic, Aliti; Boranijasevic, Dzemaili, Selnaes, Conde, Guerrero; Tosin, Rohner.

Arsenal: Turner; Tomiyasu, White, Holding, Tierney; Lokonga, Xhaka, Vieira; Marquinhos, Nketiah, Martinelli.

FC Zurich’s Recent Form

FC Zurich 1-2 Lugano (03/09) – Swiss Super League

FC Zurich 2-4 Basel (28/08) – Swiss Super League

Hearts 0-1 FC Zurich (25/08) – Europa League play-off

Cham 0-4 FC Zurich (21/08) – Swiss Cup

FC Zurich 2-1 Hearts (18/08) – Europa League play-off

Arsenal’s Recent Form

Manchester United 3-1 Arsenal (04/09) – Premier League

Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa (31/08) – Premier League

Arsenal 2-1 Fulham (27/08) – Premier League 

Bournemouth 0-3 Arsenal (20/08) – Premier League

Arsenal 4-2 Leicester (13/08) – Premier League

Prediction

Franco Foda is yet to oversee a Swiss Super League victory as FC Zurich manager. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Franco Foda is yet to oversee a Swiss Super League victory as FC Zurich manager. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) /

Former Austria manager Franco Foda has endured a wretched start to life as FC Zurich boss and it’d be a huge surprise to see his side upset an albeit rotated Gunners on Thursday evening.

Foda has struggled to mitigate against the loss of last season’s top scorer Assan Ceesay, who departed for Lecce after scoring 20 goals in the Swiss Super League. Their second top scorer from 2021/22, Wilfried Gnonto, also left the club in the summer.

Thus, FC Zurich have scored just four times in seven league games this term and the visitors will be confident of keeping them at bay in this one. Arteta’s side should be able to dominate this contest from minute one with the likes of Fabio Vieira and Eddie Nketiah surely boasting far too much talent in the attacking third for the home side to handle.

This should be a comfortable victory for the away side.

Prediction: FC Zurich 0-3 Arsenal