Emery seeks Europa League comfort as Man United battle Kazakhstan’s Astana

They are united by the struggles in the English Premier League this season. Arsenal and Manchester United, which for so many years dominated the English Premiership, are currently down, looking on as Liverpool, Leicester City, Manchester City and Chelsea fight for the 2019/2020 EPL title.

It is a strange situation, but there is nothing their fans can do about it, aside wishing that the owners of the clubs brought in new coaches for the fallen giants.

However, the Europa League promises to give these long suffering fans something to cheer today. Arsenal will host Eintracht Frankfurt at the Emirate Stadium at 4:50 p.m. African time, while Manchester United will travel to Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan for their tie against Astana at 9:00 pm African time. Both matches will be broadcast in Nigeria by StarTimes on its Channels 254 and 245. Arsenal Coach, Unai Emery is under heavy pressure as the Gunners return to the relative comforts of Europa League football against Eintracht Frankfurt this night.

Arsenal striker, Alexandre Lacazette’s late strike earned Arsenal a scarcely- deserved 2-2 Premier League draw against Southampton on Saturday – a goal, which quite possibly saved Emery’s job despite the loud boos from an angry Emirates crowd.

In contrast to their stuttering domestic displays, Arsenal’s Europa form has been good as they sit top of Group F after four games. The Gunners will go through if they avoid defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt, or if Standard Liege lost. But Emery needs a performance that shows the squad is still with him.

Recent reports suggest that Emery is on the brink of losing the dressing room, so both his line up and the application of those players who do start could speak volumes about whether the Spaniard has a future at the club.

Manchester United are yet to concede a goal in the Europa League this season- no side has ever kept a clean sheet in each of their opening five group stage games in a campaign in the competition.On the other hand, United have managed just one shot on target across their two away games in the Europa League this season, with that effort coming from the penalty spot against FK Partizan.