PSV vs Arsenal: Top two teams in Group A battle for the group winner. Who will come out on top this time?

Matchday 5 of the Europa League will see the top two teams in Group A lock horns for the second time in two weeks and the eighth time in history as they battle for the group winner at the Philips Stadion, Netherlands.

Last Thursday when both clashed in a rescheduled game, Granit Xhaka was the hero for Arsenal as his 70th minute right footed strike sealed Arsenal’s 100% record in the Europa league with a 1-0 win.

Despite the loss, Ruud Vanisterooy’s team are still sitting in a comfortable second position three points clear of Bodo/Glimt on the table.The Dutch team will be hoping to continue their unbeaten run at home in the Europa league as they are yet to lose a game on home soil.

Arsenal, with already a sealed spot in the next round of the Europa League, will be out to continue their winning streak in the Europa League this season. The Gunners have conceded just once in the competition and have not dropped a single point so far.

PSV will be out to showcase a better performance than they did at the Emirates where they only managed 4 attempts at goal as they hope to remain three points clear of Bodo/Glimt on the table.

Both teams dropped points in the league this past weekend with Arsenal playing out a 1-1 draw with Southampton in the Premier League while PSV lost to FC Groningen 4-2 in the Eredivisie.

In the Europa league, PSV have scored higher than the Gunners as they have netted 11 goals in 4 games while Arsenal have scored 7 times. However, Arsenal have a better defense with just a goal conceded as compared to PSV’s three.

Mikel Arteta’s men are yet to drop a point in the Europa League this season recording 4 wins out of 4 games; PSV have drawn a game and lost another out of 4 games.

Ruud van Nistelrooy does not have any fresh injury worries ahead of this fixture as midfielder Van Ginkel was in the squad that faced FC Groningen last weekend. The team is also bolstered with the return to full fitness of veteran striker Luuk de Jong, former Tottenham youngster Noni Madueke and Mauro Junior.
Winger Ismael Saibari, striker Yorbe Vertessen and midfielder Olivier Boscagli remain the only absentees for the Dutch side

For Mikel Arteta, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Emile Smith-Rowe, Mohammed Elneny remain the only absentees from the team with no fresh injury worries from the 1-1 draw at St.Mary’s.

PSV will want to return to winning ways after two consecutive losses. Hence Ruud van Nistelrooy would go all out with an attacking line up this time. A start for De Jong to lead the attack might be one of the changes

PSV possible starting XI:  Walter Benitez, Mauro Junior, Armando Obispo, Andre Silva, Jordan Teze,Joey Veerman, Ibrahim Sangare, Xavi Simons, Cody Gakpo, Noni Madueke, Luuk De Jong.

For Arsenal, there has always been a rotation system of squad for the Europa League. Mikel Arteta will stick to his rotation for this tie.

Arsenal possible starting XI: Matt Turner; Takehiro Tomiyasu, Rob Holding, Cedric Soares,
Kierian Tierney; Granit Xhaka, Sambi Lokonga; Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson; Eddie Nketiah
The Gunners will remain top of the group if eventually they drop their first points of the competition on Thursday or go eight points clear at the top of the group while a win will see PSV draw closer to qualifying into the next round.