English Premier League

FC Zurich vs Arsenal Prediction, Team news, and Lineups – Sept. 8, 2022

Published

3 years ago

September 8, 2022

Here we bring you FC Zurich vs Arsenal prediction, team news, predicted lineup and all you need to know ahead of the opening Europa League games on Thursday night.

On Thursday, Arsenal’s ultimate pursuit for Europa League success gets underway as the Gunners head to Kybunpark to take on Swiss champions FC Zurich.

Due to their fifth-place Premier League finish, Mikel Arteta’s team had an easy path into the group stage while their opponents were eliminated from Champions League qualifiers.

Contrary to their more illustrious rivals, Zurich has played in the Champions League in 2022–23; nevertheless, Franco Foda failed to lead his team past Qarabag of Azerbaijan, and Zurich lost on aggregate by a score of 5–4.

After slipping to the second -tier of European play, Zurich bounced back to defeat Hearts 3-1 on aggregate and put five past Linfield over the course of two legs, securing their spot in the Europa League group stage for the sixth time in 11 years.

The 13-time defending champions from Switzerland exited the competition at the group stage in each of the editions from 2011–12, 2014–15, and 2016–17. However, they broke this curse in their final appearance in the secondary competition, reaching the last-32 in 2018–19 before being defeated by Napoli.

Table of Contents

Match Preview

Sadly, FC Zurich has had a brutally dismal start to the defense of their Swiss Super League championship, going winless through 7 games and losing three straight home matches to Sion, Basel, and Lugano.

Zurich’s loss of the highly regarded Wilfried Gnonto to Leeds United hasn’t helped in that aspect, but the 18-year-old had struggled in the 2022–23 Swiss Super League, so the hosts’ quest for a fifth consecutive Europa League victory won’t be easy.

Arsenal certainly received a severe wakeup call at the conclusion of the 2021–22 season after being considered the favorites for the fourth place and final Champions League spot and being tipped as serious contenders for third.

Read also: Europa League predictions

It can be recalled that Arteta’s men lost semi-final matches in 2018 and 2021 and reached the losing final in 2019, will now play in the second tier of European football for a sixth season. It would be best to keep quiet about their last-32 loss to Olympiacos in 2020.

However, the Mikel Arteta approach has been successful for the Gunners in recent weeks, with the club’s wise acquisitions adding to their new reputation as a pressing machine. However, Manchester United dragged the Gunners back to reality at the weekend.

The English giants enter Thursday’s match with a 75% win rate from Europa League group stage games, second only to Zenit St. Petersburg (79%) among teams that have competed in at least two or three editions of the competition. Marcus Rashford and £85 million man Antony ended Arsenal’s perfect start to the new Premier League season, but they still lead after six games.

The game on Thursday will be the first competitive encounter between Arsenal and Zurich, but the Gunners travel with a 100% winning record against Swiss opposition (six victories from six), thanks to the hat-trick of the misunderstood Lucas Perez in a 4-1 Champions League victory over Basel.

FC Zurich and Arsenal Current Form

Form for the FC Zurich Europa League: WWWW

FC Zurich form (all competitions): DWWWLL

Arsenal form (across all competitions): WWWWWL

Teams News

Barring the unavailability of center back Ilan Sauter and striker Bogdan Viunnyk, who is on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Zurich should be well-prepared for this match.

Aiyegun Tosin, who recently opened his account for the season in the defeat to Lugano, will thus be under pressure to be the attacking force. Fabian Rohner may assist him in the final third.

Karol Mets of Estonia played for only 45 minutes over the weekend after receiving an early caution, and Fidan Aliti or Nikola Katic, who left Rangers after 4 years to join FCZ, could challenge for his starting position.

Reiss Nelson, Thomas Partey, and Mohamed Elneny are all permanently confined to the medical room for Arsenal, and now Arteta has a new injury worry in Emile Smith Rowe, who appeared to limp off during the warm-up at Old Trafford.

Cedric Soares (knee) has been left out of the team, but several changes are still possible as Matt Turner, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Rob Holding, Eddie Nketiah, and Fabio Vieira try to break into the starting lineup.

After being selected for the senior Gunners Europa League squad, Marquinhos and Matt Smith may also make their club debuts. If Nketiah replaces Gabriel Jesus this week, he will attempt to score in his third straight Europa League start.

FC Zurich Predicted lineup vs Arsenal

Brecher; Kryeziu, Omeragic, Aliti; Boranijasevic, Dzemaili, Selnaes, Conde, Guerrero; Tosin, Rohner

Arsenal Predicted lineup vs FC Zurich

Turner; Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Xhaka, Lokonga; Saka, Vieira, Martinelli; Nketiah

FC Zurich vs Arsenal Prediction

Even if the visitors will rotate, Arteta will still field a team with a wealth of young talent that is capable of leaving a lasting impression. The Gunners would have felt betrayed if they had left Old Trafford empty-handed.

Although they have performed much better on the European competition, Zurich have had a terrible start to their new home campaign, thus we cannot see anything other than a convincing away victory for Arteta’s team this week.

The match will end with an away victory, according to our professional tipster friends at Sporita.com.

FT: FC Zurich 1-3 Arsenal

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English Premier League

Rangers Youngster Sets Celtic Fans Alight with Bold Celebration in Epic Kilmarnock Moment

Published

2 weeks ago

February 15, 2026

90minsoccer

Rangers Youngster Sets Celtic Fans Alight with Bold Celebration in Epic Kilmarnock Moment!

In a Scottish Premiership clash that had fans on the edge of their seats, Rangers’ loanee Findlay Curtis turned heads with a cheeky celebration that has since gone viral online. The 19-year-old, on loan at Kilmarnock, was at the heart of the drama as his side surged into an early lead against fierce rivals Celtic at Rugby Park — and he didn’t hold back in celebrating it.

Curtis, deployed in a more advanced role for this fixture, made the most of his opportunity. After Tyreece John-Jules opened the scoring and Kilmarnock doubled their advantage, cameras caught the young winger raising his arms and gesturing in celebration directly in front of the Celtic supporters in the away end — a moment that instantly lit up social media.

Although his exuberant celebration was quickly cut short when veteran keeper Kasper Schmeichel ushered him away, the damage was done — pundits and fans alike have been talking about it ever since. That kind of on-field bravado in front of the rival support doesn’t happen every day, and it’s one that will stick in the minds of supporters on both sides.

Whether you see it as passionate football emotion or a bit of mind games, Curtis’ reaction added another unforgettable moment to a season already packed with drama and rivalry — showing once again why the Scottish Premiership never fails to entertain.

English Premier League

End of the Road at Parkhead? Andy Walker Drops Brutal Verdict on Celtic’s Japanese Duo

Published

2 weeks ago

February 15, 2026

90minsoccer

Table of Contents

“Are Celtic’s Japanese Stars Past Their Best? Andy Walker Predicts End of the Road for Maeda & Hatate”

Recent pundit commentary has stirred fresh debate among fans of Celtic Football Club, with veteran analyst Andy Walker making bold claims about two of the team’s key Japanese players — Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate. Walker’s verdict? This could be the final chapter at Parkhead for both players if they don’t turn their seasons around.

Struggles on the Pitch

Walker’s view stems from both men’s current dip in form. Hatate, normally a creative midfield presence, was recently scrutinised after a costly mistake led to a penalty for Livingston — and Walker suggested it might be time for him to lose his place temporarily in the starting XI to find confidence again.

Meanwhile, Maeda — who once electrified Scottish football with blistering pace and a PFA Player of the Year-winning season — has yet to recapture that spark this campaign. The forward is playing well below the high standards he set previously, and Walker believes both he and Hatate may have run their course at Celtic unless they rediscover their best form before the season ends.

Why This Matters

Walker’s assessment resonates beyond just match performance:

Maeda’s Blocked Transfer: Earlier in the season, Maeda openly admitted he wanted a move away — only for Celtic to block it — and pundits speculated this block may have affected his focus and sharpness.
Legacy and Timing: If both players fail to make a strong impact before the campaign’s conclusion, Walker argues their legacies at Celtic could be overshadowed by disappointment rather than remembered for their earlier success.

The Bigger Picture

Celtic’s squad is at a crossroads. With new tactics, fresh faces and evolving expectations under manager Brendan Rodgers, long-serving players must justify their place or risk being phased out. Walker’s blunt but insightful commentary has sparked fresh debate among supporters over who should lead the club forward — and who’s time might be running out.

English Premier League

Adrie van der Poel deelt verontrustend bericht over Mathieu

Published

2 months ago

January 3, 2026

90minsoccer

Wout van Aert kende een dramatische afloop aan de cross in Mol, maar ook Mathieu van der Poel kwam niet ongeschonden uit deze wedstrijd. De Nederlander had het bijzonder koud, en kwam zelf eerder ook ten val. Vader Adrie zag daar een probleem.

Valpartij had invloed

Nochtans maakte Van der Poel duidelijk dat hij geen schade heeft overgehouden aan zijn tuimeling: “Eigenlijk viel ik zelfs nog zacht”, aldus de Nederlander. “Ik kreeg gewoon mijn voet niet uit mijn klikpedaal in het zand, waardoor ik stomweg omviel. Maar ik heb er gelukkig geen last van.”

Zo zag vader Adrie het echter niet tijdens de wedstrijd. In een interview met Sporza stelde hij immers dat Van der Poel last ondervond van zijn eerdere valpartij, eerder nog dan van de koude. Al voegde Adrie er ook wel aan toe dat zijn zoon niet bepaald staat te springen voor een koers in de sneeuw.

Van der Poel viseert enkel de koude

Reken daarbij nog de haast ondragelijke koude, en we kregen een verkleumde Van der Poel te zien na de finish. In zijn interviews achteraf stond hij nog steeds te bibberen, en maakte de wereldkampioen duidelijk dat hij behoorlijk hard had afgezien.

“Het was geen aangename cross. Ik heb het nu al een beetje warmer, maar ik heb zeker veel koud geleden vandaag”, luidde het bij MVDP. “Je weet ook dat wanneer je nadien weer opwarmt, het vijf minuten echt veel pijn gaat doen. Met dat gevoel was ik de laatste rondes al bezig.”

Voor Van der Poel was de conclusie dan ook duidelijk: “Dit was de moeilijkste wedstrijd van het jaar. Na een tijd hadden mijn handen en voeten zo veel koud dat het niet meer vanzelf ging.” Nu maar hopen dat vader Adrie toch geen gelijk krijgt over een mogelijke blessure, die door onderkoeling mogelijk onder de radar zou zijn gebleven.

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