2022/2023 EL Group A: Arsenal - PSV - Bodo/Glimt - Zürich

[Dragonite]

[SimonB]

One of the opening fixtures for this group Zurich vs Arsenal has been moved to St Gallen due to other events being held at the Zurich home stadium.

[Lorric]

One of the opening fixtures for this group Zurich vs Arsenal has been moved to St Gallen due to other events being held at the Zurich home stadium.

Again?! They had to move for Hearts too, think they were hosting a concert or something.

[SimonB]

One of the opening fixtures for this group Zurich vs Arsenal has been moved to St Gallen due to other events being held at the Zurich home stadium.

Again?! They had to move for Hearts too, think they were hosting a concert or something.

I am sure it is for the annual "Weltklasse" athletics meeting on this occasion, usually one of the best meetings of the year at which many world records have been set in the past. I didn't check to see what the reason was last time but it is a multi-purpose stadium.

[Lorric]

One of the opening fixtures for this group Zurich vs Arsenal has been moved to St Gallen due to other events being held at the Zurich home stadium.

Again?! They had to move for Hearts too, think they were hosting a concert or something.

I am sure it is for the annual "Weltklasse" athletics meeting on this occasion, usually one of the best meetings of the year at which many world records have been set in the past. I didn't check to see what the reason was last time but it is a multi-purpose stadium.

I had a look, it was a concert. Apparently it's a popular venue for them.

[hertolo]

Arsenal should be glad. This is how the grass looked on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, pretty much all the goals scored in that match were by head...

https://twitter.com/FootballSwissEN/sta ... m06ow&s=19

[SimonB]

Arsenal should be glad. This is how the grass looked on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, pretty much all the goals scored in that match were by head...

https://twitter.com/FootballSwissEN/sta ... m06ow&s=19

The players probably will be, but the travelling fans maybe not so much as they will need to get a transfer to St. Gallen after landing from their flight.

[matt]

Prediction:

Arsenal
PSV
Bodo Glimt
Zurich

[Polak]

Prediction
1. Arsenal
2. Bodo/Glimt
3. PSV
4. FC Zurich

[Korgutt]

Prediction
1. Arsenal
2. PSV
3. Bodø/Glimt
4. FC Zürich

[Dragonite]

Arsenal



--> 5th participation in the EL group stages
--> Always advanced from the group stages
--> Manager: Mikel Arteta (10-3-3)
--> Squad EL experience: 289 matches




PSV



--> 10th participation in the EL group stages
--> Advanced from the group stages 5 times (56%)
--> Manager: Ruud Van Nistelrooy (0-0-0)
--> Squad EL experience: 260 matches




Bodo/Glimt



--> 1st participation in the EL group stages
--> None of the previous four Norwegian debutants advanced from the group stages
--> Manager: Khetil Knudsen (0-0-0)
--> Squad EL experience: 24 matches




Zürich



--> 5th participation in the EL group stages
--> Advanced from the group stages 1 times (25%)
--> Manager: Franco Foda (2-1-9)
--> Squad EL experience: 65 matches





Prediction:
1. Arsenal
2. PSV
3. Zürich
4. Bodo/Glimt

[Glimt1916]

Zürich - Arsenal 1-2
PSV - Bodø/Glimt 1-1

PSV had some really big chances, and Glimt had two big with a header from Vetlesen, shot from outside the box towards the end (kinda simlilar to the goal), and the overtime mega-chance from Vetlesen. Fairly even game, where PSV fortunately did not get to use their individual players the same way Zagreb did against Bodø/Glimt. This group is still wide open, with Arsenal as heavy favorites, still.

[bugylibicska]

To win the group:

Arsenal 1.22
PSV 6.00
Bodo 11.00
Zurich 34.00

[Glimt1916]

I guess nobody will argue that both Arsenal and Glimt are favourites in GW2. So I'd say:

ARS 6p
Glimt 4p
PSV 1/2p
Zürich 0p

If Arsenal then goes ahead and wins at Emirates as big favourites against Glimt.
PSV gets a draw or loss in Zürich, which I'd say is plausible, the standing is

ARS 9p
Glimt 4p
PSV 2/3p
Zürich 0/1p

So, the game in Bodø, Arsenal really does not have to win it, as Arsenal has Zürich at home in the last match as a buffer. Arsenal also has two big games before and after the game in Bodø. really fancy Bodø/Glimts chances to end up on the 2nd place after the huge draw in Eindhoven

[Dragonite]

Expected win for Arsenal.

PSV starting with a 1-1 home draw is disappointing, but perhaps that's a good omen. The only other time that it happened was in 2010/2011, and that season culminated with PSV reaching the quarterfinals, the furthest that they ever reached.