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Match preview
Following their first defeat of the season, will Arsenal respond as they return to European competition after a season away?
Last year was the first time since 1995/96 the Gunners hadn’t competed in UEFA competition, but they’re back, even if this wasn’t the competition they were hoping to feature in.
Nevertheless, having fallen at the semi-final stage of the Europa League in 2018 and 2021, also reaching the 2019 final, Arsenal will be desperate to lift the trophy in Budapest on the final night of May next year.
Domestically, Mikel Arteta’s team began the season with five wins out of five, before Sunday’s 3-1 reverse at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
In-spite of that, the Gunners remain top of the Premier League table, with hopes and dreams remaining equally sky-high.
With PSV Eindhoven and Bodø/Glimt rounding-out Group A, they will not want to stumble in Switzerland on matchday one.
New manager Franco Foda is under serious pressure already, and with good reason.
His side sit second bottom of the table, having accumulated just two points from seven outings, most recently beaten by Lugano at home on Saturday.
To make matters worse, star winger Wilfried Gnonto was sold to Leeds on deadline day, while this match will take place 46 miles east in St. Gallen, with Letzigrund booked out by athletics and then an Ed Sheehan gig.
In Champions League qualifying, Zürich were narrowly ousted by Qarabağ, before overcoming Linfield and Heart of Midlothian on this tournament.
All in all though, even if Arteta makes wholesale changes, Arsenal should easily have too much quality at Kybunpark.
