Arsenal’s game with Bodo/Glimt this evening holds special significance for Mikel Arteta’s hosts.
A 15-year-old Martin Odegaard once played against them before his rise to stardom and those Norwegian ties mean there are a great deal of Arsenal fans in that region of Europe.
Indeed, the club have had to tell their own supporters not to turn up in the famous red and white of Arsenal, encouraging their supporters to create a yellow wall as we saw at the Emirates Stadium a week ago.
Arsenal would eventually win that clash but there is a feeling that the return match this evening will be tougher for the Gunners.
Bodo/Glimt don’t stray from their philosophy, playing an attractive brand of football that relies on playing out from the back.
It’s rather similar to the London club with tonight set to be a real battle of style and nerve.
Arsenal should, on paper, come away with all three points but much will depend again on their fringe players.nke
Eddie Nketiah has been a star in this competition so far, scoring two goals, flanked by the ever-reliable Gabriel Martinelli and the lively prodigy; Marquinhos.
The latter scored a lovely goal – his first for the club – on match day one in Zurich and he has looked impressive since.
The Europa League is the perfect playground for Arteta to give minutes to those who don’t play very often and we could well see a debut on Thursday night.
Arsenal reporter Charles Watts has suggested that if Gabriel Jesus does not travel, with the Brazilian set to be rested, Khayon Edwards will travel and feature on the bench having appeared in first-team training this week.
The 19-year-old is yet to taste senior football but has immense potential and is thought of highly at Colney.
Another dangerous attacker, there is an element of Bukayo Saka to his tricky nature with the teenager starring at youth level of late.
The centre-forward has scored twice in four Premier League 2 outings this term, and hit a remarkable haul of 16 goals in 16 U18 Premier League outings last season, taking on the baton from Nketiah and Reims loanee Folarin Balogun who both scored a bucket load at that level.
Balogun has earned minutes in this competition before, scoring his first senior goal a few years ago vs a different Norwegian opposition in Molde.
The hope will be that Edwards can repeat that accomplishment, with a potential debut on the cards for the young attacker this evening.
Described as a “deadly” individual by reporter Kaya Kaynak, it paints the perfect picture of exactly what he’s all about.
The thought of him potentially lining up alongside Marquinhos and co, therefore, is a tantalising one with the dangerous youngsters possessing the ability to cause any defence in the competition a hard night.
Arteta has already handed one debut to Ethan Nwaneri this term, but at just 15, that was a rather surprising call-up.
For those who know Edwards, they will be aware that his chance has been coming. It’s now time for him to grasp it with both hands and take this competition by the scruff of the neck.
Like Saka and Marquinhos have shown, there is a pathway to more regular first-team football if you can shine on Thursday nights under the lights.
This is a golden opportunity.
