Three things to look out for in Rapid Wien vs Arsenal

Thomas Partey

Three things to look out for in Rapid Wien vs Arsenal


By Paul Martin

It's now only a matter of hours until Arsenal's 2020/21 Europa League campaign gets underway, with Mikel Arteta looking to add continental silverware to the domestic trophies he has already secured.

First up is a trip to the Austrian capital to take on Rapid Vienna, who sit second in the Austrian Bundesliga – which is where they finished last season.

But what can we expect from tonight's game? Here are three things to look out for… 

Partey Time

Having come off the bench at Manchester City on Saturday, the stage looks set for £45m man Thomas Partey to make his first start for the club this evening.

"It was a very short turnaround for him since he joined the team," Arteta said this week.

"He had a day, a day-and-a-half only in training. He has done a few more training sessions and he looks ready to start."

If he does so, it will be intriguing to see how the Ghanaian fits into the system, especially with other changes expected to be made to keep the squad as fresh as possible with games coming thick and fast.

Thomas has become accustomed to playing Champions League rather than Europa League football in recent seasons so he should stand out at this level, and a low-key opening group game could be the perfect way to ease him into the Arsenal set-up. 

A chance for Nelson?

Arteta has shown plenty of faith in his young guns since taking over from Unai Emery but Reiss Nelson is among those still waiting for a proper chance to show what he can do.

He has made just one start so far this season – in the Carabao Cup win at Leicester – and has had to watch from the sidelines as fellow academy graduates Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Bukayo Saka have established themselves in the first team.

The Evening Standard are reporting Nelson may be handed an opportunity to start on the right tonight and it is up to the 20-year-old to make the most of it if so.

He has scored in the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup in his short Arsenal career so far – can he add the Europa League to that list tonight? 

Watch out for Fountas

Although Arsenal are strong favourites to kick off with a win in Group B, they cannot underestimate their hosts.

Rapid are unbeaten in the league so far this season and have an in-form striker in the shape of Taxiarchis Fountas, who has banged in seven goals in all competitions already – including two in the Champions League qualifying rounds.

With Shkodran Mustafi potentially in line for his first appearance of the season, the German international will have to be on his toes to stop Fountas getting a sniff in front of goal.

Rapid and Arsenal have never played each other before but tonight’s hosts reached the Europa League knockout stages two seasons ago and will be no pushovers. You only have to think back to Ostersunds or Olympiakos to know no game can be taken for granted in this competition…

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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