For the second time in the space of four days, Arsenal have been on the wrong end of a fixture postponement, with their clash against PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League being called off “due to the severe limitations on police resources and organisational issues related to the ongoing events surrounding the national mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II”....CONTINUE READING
This comes after last Sunday’s match against Everton at the Emirates Stadium was postponed as football in England and Scotland was suspended across all levels – including The WSL, EFL and SPL – as a mark of respect to Queen Elizabeth II, who sadly passed away on September 8.
Of course, this meant as well as the Gunners’ first-team players not being in action, a large number of this season’s 24-man-strong loan army were also affected by this decision as they are plying their trade across the UK.
But with a full EFL fixture programme to resume as scheduled from today (Tuesday September 13) it means Arsenal supporters can do a bit of scouting to see how young talents such as Tyreece John-Jules, Salah-Eddine, Tim Akinola, Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Arthur Okonkwo are faring.
Charlie Patino is closing in on a return to action for Blackpool after several weeks on the sidelines through injury, but Wednesday’s game away at Rotherham could come too soon, although on the same night Auston Trusty could be in line to continue his impressive form with Birmingham City.
For Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, perhaps he will be tempted to use the free time this week – afforded to him by the postponement of the PSV Eindhoven fixture – to make use of a double scouting mission in the Champions League as well as the Europa Conference League.
Nuno Tavares, who has caught the eye during the early stages of his loan spell with Marseille with three goals in eight appearances across all competitions, is one of two Gunners loanees playing in European competition this week as he’s in line to start against Eintracht Frankfurt tonight.
Despite playing well for long periods on matchday one against Tottenham Hotspur last week, the Ligue 1 outfit still left north London empty-handed and will be looking to earn their first points of the group stage against last season’s Europa League winners who, themselves, need to respond to losing their opener at home to Sporting CP.
And on Thursday night – at the same time Arsenal were due to be in action against PSV at the Emirates – £72m club record signing Nicolas Pepe could make his latest appearance for Nice when they face Partizan Belgrade away from home in the Europa Conference League.
The winger has enjoyed a steady start to life back in France, scoring against former club Lille in a 2-1 win at the end of August before picking up the man-of-the-match award at the weekend as Nice beat AC Ajaccio by a goal-to-nil. Another good showing from the 27-year-old on the European stage could perhaps increase his transfer value ahead of next summer.
