Arsenal on the brink of Europa knockouts

HAVING made a perfect start to their Europa League campaign, Arsenal can secure a place in the knockout phase with two group games to spare by beating Red Star Belgrade tonight (at 3:05am Cambodian time).

The Gunners play host to the 1991 European Cup winners in north London a fortnight after Olivier Giroud’s remarkable late goal secured a 1-0 win in Belgrade.

Having also got the better of Cologne and BATE Borisov, Arsene Wenger’s side are top of Group H with maximum points and simply avoiding defeat against the Serbian league leaders could be enough for them to progress to the last 32.

For a side growing in con- fidence after four straight wins in all competitions, another victory ctory should not be too much ch to ask, even if Wenger (pictured, AFP) will again in rotate his squad with one eye on Sunday’s day’s Premier

League clash with Manchester ster City.

Everton, n, the other English side in n the competition, i t i on, are in a rather less favourvourable position sition as they head to France ce to take on Lyon.

L a n g u i s h - ing in the e drop zone in the Premier League ague and without a permanent manager since the sacking of Ronald Koeman last week, the Toffees could be elimin eliminated from Europe tonight (1am). Such a sce scenario will arise if they lose and Group E leade leaders Atalanta avoid defeat in their game against Apollon Limassol in Cyprus.

It has bee been a miserable contin continental campaign so far for Everton, wh who were held a at home by A Apollon eith ther side of a def defeat to Atalanta and a 2-1 home loss lo to Lyon last month month.

They hav have lost both games so far under caretaker manager David Unsworth, following a 2-1 reverse at Chelsea in the League Cup with a 2-0 Premier League defeat at Leicester City, but youngster Dominic Calvert-Lewin put a positive spin on things ahead of the trip to France.

“The match at Chelsea showed we have those good performances in us, then in the second half against Leicester they had a two-goal cushion but we were trying to break them down for the full 45 minutes and were the better side,” he said.

“If we can keep bringing that intensity and standard of play to our performances, then we will win games.”

However, unbeaten in seven and fresh from four straight wins, Lyon are in formidable form and are determined to go all the way to the final which will be held at their own Groupama Stadium.

Among t he ot her clubs who could secure qualification for t he last 32 wit h t wo games to spare tonight are Dynamo Kiev, Lazio and Zenit St Petersburg.

Surprise Swedish side Ostersund – coached by Englishman Graham Potter – will extend their run in Europe into the New Year with the right combination of results as they visit Athletic Bilbao.

Meanwhile, in the midst of a poor run of form in Serie A, AC Milan are also in a position to progress to the last 32 with a win against AEK Athens in Greece in Group D.