Arsenal have just four matches to play before club football pauses for the World Cup, as the Gunners look to finish off what has been, up to this point, a sensational start to the season.
Mikel Arteta’s side sit two points clear at the top of the Premier League, and seven points clear of Newcastle in fourth with a game in hand, while they are also setting the pace in Europe.
Ahead of tonight’s final group-stage match against Zurich at the Emirates, Arsenal are top of Group A with a two-point advantage over PSV, who beat the Gunners last week.
Finishing top of the group is crucial, with the eight group winners going straight through to the last 16 of the competition. Teams finishing second face a knockout round play-off clash against one of the sides dropping down from the Champions League, with Barcelona and Ajax possible opponents.
What do Arsenal need to do to top Group A?
Arsenal need to match, or better, PSV’s result away to Bodo/Glimt and that will be enough for the Gunners to win Group A and receive a bye into the Europa League last 16.
Victory at home to Zurich tonight would get the job done regardless of what happens in the other match in the group, while Arteta’s side will be confirmed as group winners if PSV fail to beat Bodo/Glimt.
Should Arsenal draw and PSV win, both would finish on 13 points but it would be the Dutch side that top the group, as a result of their superior goal difference in the head-to-head matches.
There is plenty of incentive for both Bodo/Glimt and Zurich to push for a result, with third place in the group and with it a place in the Europa Conference League knockout stages up for grabs. Bodo/Glimt have a one-point advantage over Zurich heading into the final matches.
