Standard Liege vs Arsenal – Prediction (Europa League – 12.12.2019)

Preview and Teams Comparison.

It is simply ‘win or bust’ for Standard Liège in this final UEFA Europa League (UEL) group stage matchday, with the Belgian hosts likely requiring a five-goal victory to reach the Round-of-32. However, Standard’s best winning margin over an English side remains a mere ‘2-0’, attained way back in November 1978. Standard have at least won both of their prior UEL group stage home matches played this term, which saw them score exactly twice in each match – doing so in the second half of play. Impressively, those victories form the tail-end of a five-game winning run in UEL home matches.

Barring utter catastrophe, Arsenal appear safe – even if the ‘Gunners’ have won just one of their last ten competitive matches (W1, D6, L3). All three of the defeats in that sequence saw Arsenal concede at least once after the hour mark. It’s also just one win in seven competitive away games (W1, D4, L2), with every one of the six Premier League/UEL fixtures in that sequence seeing Arsenal fail to score single a first-half goal from open play. Indeed, four of Arsenal’s last five UEL away goals (group stage to semi-final only) have arrived in the 80th minute or later.

Players to watch: Maxime Lestienne scored the winner (at 90th+4 mins) in Standard’s most recent UEL home victory. Once closer to full fitness, Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson has a potential opportunity to make a name for himself. His last three goals have arrived beyond the 75th minute as part of wins.

Stat attack: Standard’s last three UEL matches have seen both teams score once each inside the last 30 minutes (plus stoppage-time) of one half. Standard have scored exactly once beyond the 89th minute in both prior UEL home games this term. Arsenal’s last five competitive away goals scored in the course of victory have arrived in the 60th minute or later.

Match Info and Live Scores.