Nicholas Makes His Prediction For Arsenal’s Europa League Tie Against BATE Borisov

Nicholas Makes His Prediction For Arsenal’s Europa League Tie Against BATE Borisov

Former Arsenal player Charlie Nicholas believes it is critical that the Gunners’ shaky defence holds up against BATE Borisov this evening.

The TV pundit does not believe Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi have what it takes to play in Unai Emery’s side but he’s hoping they can do enough in Belarus tonight:


“You know Arsenal’s vulnerable defence can do silly things, but they have to get the job done. Unai Emery has suffered more than anybody else. He knows his defence is a car crash, but there is not a lot he can do.”

“Laurent Koscielny cannot do it, Shkodran Mustafi doesn’t get what he is being taught, as well as the full-backs. He has made a couple of mistakes, but who doesn’t?”

Nicholas has gone with a 3-1 win for Arsenal this evening, bringing a healthy lead back for the second leg at the Emirates in a week’s time.

Emery has controversially left playmaker Mesut Ozil at home for the game. The club’s medical staff declared him fit after missing the win over Huddersfield last weekend due to illness.

However, explaining his decision yesterday, the Gunners boss stated that the German had not fully recovered full fitness:

“We are here with the players who I think are OK to play. The players not in the squad is because Ramsey has not trained with us, Sokratis has started to train but not enough, Mesut is the same.”

Aaron Ramsey is currently suffering from a knee injury while Sokratis only returned to full training earlier this week following a lengthy spell out with an ankle problem.

David Tully

David Tully

David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World's Football News Network.