Key events
Mikel Arteta speaks: “I like to control games in the last 20 metres. It is the most difficult thing in football when teams are really low against us. This season we have been struggling to unlock teams early, unlike last season.”
Bit more VAR chat: “It is my duty and who I am. I will defend this club and these players. In the dressing room, I demand the best and I am the same out here.”
TNT’s coverage really is trying too hard. They are jumping from behind the goal, to the side of the pitch and now to the commentators to do some analysis. Get in a studio and keep it simple.
Rai Skrupskis lands in my inbox: “Let’s hope Sevilla are denied a winner by an outrageous VAR decision so Arteta can rage about the injustice of it all. Eh? Oh.”
Russell Eberts gets in touch touch to say: “I find it odd that Arteta gets stick for the same things that Klopp, Mourinho, Sir Alex, and many other managers have done over the years. Klopp gets mad at reporters for asking him how he feels about playing on Saturdays! Mourinho threw his players under the bus time and time again. Sir Alex used his bully pulpit as much as he could. Not sure why people dislike Arteta so much, except for maybe the fact he coaches Arsenal, and people can’t stand Arsenal being good again (and they are good).”
Jeff Sax emails: “Let’s see what Arteta will whinge about tonight?!
“What he lacks in coaching skills, he makes up with whining.”
Sid Lowe and Victor Orta together at last.
There is no Eddie Nketiah for Arsenal tonight because the striker has an ankle issue.
Get in the mood for tonight’s match with a look at Arteta v VAR.
Starting lineups
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Rice, Jorginho; Havertz, Saka, Martinelli; Trossard
Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, Soares, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Vieira, Nelson, Elneny, Cozier-Duberry, Sagoe Jr.
Sevilla (4-1-4-1): Dmitrovic; Juanlu, Badé, Gudelj, Kike Salas; Fernando; Lamela, Jordan, Sow, Pedrosa; En-Nesyri
Subs: Flores, Gattoni, Ocampos, Suso, Rafa Mir, Rakitic, Lukebakio, Mariano Diaz, Nianzou, Navas, Torres, Soumare
Preamble
The Gunners sit top of the table and a win tonight could confirm their place in the knockout stages, depending on results elsewhere. Mikel Arteta’s team have, however, lost their last two matches and the manager is still absolutely fuming about VAR.
On the upside, the only time Sevilla have been victorious in their past eight outings was a victory in the Copa del Rey over fourth tier Quintanar. They find themselves 15th in La Liga thanks to a grand total of two victories in 11 and are already onto their second manager of the season, with Diego Alonso replacing Europa League winner José Luis Mendilibar at the helm in October.
Let’s hope for a cracker!
Kick-off: 8pm GMT.
