Arsenal v BATE Borisov - Preview and possible line-ups

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal

Ozil is unlikely to feature in Unai Emery's starting line-up on Thursday night after a conversation in which he told the German he required more consistency to be considered for a starting role.

Aaron Ramsey is expected to be among the substitutes, if present at all, as he continues to suffer with a knee problem. This could mean that a space opens up for Denis Suarez to make his first start for Arsenal after signing for the Gunners in January.

Aubameyang will return to the starting line-up after Alexandre Lacazette has to sit this one out with a suspension after receiving a red card in the first-leg.

Petr Cech has not been totally convincing between the posts these last few weeks, meaning Leno could take the number one spot in goal.

BATE Borisov

Thursday's game marks the return of Alexander Hleb to North London, after the midfielder enjoyed a spell with the Gunners between 2005 and 2008. However, the 37-year old may not start from kick-off as Yevgeniy Berezkin could get the nod.

Otherwise, boss Baha is unlikely to make any other alterations to his line-up from the team that took victory at home in the first-leg.

MANAGERS' THOUGHTS

Unai Emery

"The first game was difficult because we went to BATE with ambition and wanted to win. During the game, you never know what can happen. The pitch was difficult as well."

"Now the reality is we are 1-0 down and we know the game we want to play tomorrow, we have the quality to qualify and go to the next round. Each player is focused and it is a very important game because it is a chance to get to a final and get into the Champions League."

"For us it's is a very important match," said Emery. "It is also very important to play in our stadium with our supporters, and we need their support for this match and I hope there is a big atmosphere for us."

When asked to give an update on Mesut Ozil, Emery said, "I ask him in our conversation for consistency, to be available for us for training, when you can train consistently you can help us with your best performance in the games."

Alyaksey Baha

“First of all I would say that it is great to be at the Emirates again,” he said. “When the stadium is full it is even easier for us, the lack of a full stadium is not great to create a football festival but we are ready for any atmosphere.”

“We are going to be motivated and had a good result in the first game so we will give everything we have to qualify further."

“Of course it helps (coming to England early) because of the time-frame and also the climate, it helped us adapt and gave us more time to prepare for the game as well.”

FORM GUIDE

DID YOU KNOW?

Thursday's match will be the fourth competitive meeting between the two sides within 18 months.

Last season Arsenal registered 4-2 and 6-0 victories over BATE, so the first-leg scoreline will have come as a surprise.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Arsenal

Leno; Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, Koscielny, Kolasinac; Torreira, Xhaka; Iwobi, Suarez, Mkhitaryan; Aubameyang

BATE Borisov

Scherbitski; Rios, Volkov, Filipenko, Filipovic; Baga, Dragun, Berezkin; Milic, Skavysh, Stasevich