Arsenal vs Vitoria prediction: How will Europa League fixture play out?
Arsenal's club-record signing Nicolas Pepe stepped off the bench to score two free-kicks and seal a Europa League comeback win over Vitoria and spare the blushes of under-fire head coach Unai Emery.
After losing at Sheffield United on Monday night, Emery launched an impassioned defence of his tenure as Gunners boss on the eve of the Group F clash - but what followed was as below-par performance rescued by the brilliance of his £72million man, who struck a fine brace to earn a 3-2 win.
Without a goal from their first two games and with no away win in Europe since 2005, Vitoria stunned the Emirates Stadium as former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards opened the scoring before Bruno Duarte restored the lead following Gabriel Martinelli's equaliser.
With more than one "Emery Out" banner displayed and the crowd singing for Mesut Ozil - again absent from the matchday squad - it was clear Emery's calls for patience from supporters had largely fallen on deaf ears but the stadium erupted as Pepe curled in two wonderful free-kicks in the final 10 minutes.
Despite the malaise of Manchester United's midfield this season, Garner has until today not been called upon to step up into the first-team picture.
But with United desperate for an inspiring performance in the Europa League after a draw with AZ Alkmaar and an unconvincing win over Astana, could Garner make his name tonight?
It also appears that Ole Gunnar Solskajer has stuck with the back three system that worked so well at Liverpool.
The back three today however consists of Harry Maguire, today's captain, and Marcus Rojo, both of whom played against Klopp's men, while Phil Jones comes in for Victor Lindelof.
This is not the first time Manchester United have visited Partizan Belgrade. The two teams met in a famous European Cup semi-final in 1966, eight years after the Munich disaster, and defeat brought Sir Matt Busby to tears as he believed it was their best chance to finally win the trophy. Two years later they did it, completing one of the most remarkable stories in football history.
Here is Miguel Delaney on that fateful semi-final:
Solskjaer has been speaking about the inclusion of James Garner in the Man Utd Xi ahead of tonight's game:
"He’s has been excellent and he’s been waiting for his chance,” Solskjaer told MUTV.
“Tonight with the experience he has around, it will be a good start for him. He’s got more or less 300 caps around him so don’t think he’s ever played with so much experience around him and he’s an exciting player.”
United have looked to start this game brightly and their first attack sees them attack down the right before it is snuffed out due to Wan Bissaka's slip.
Umar Sadiq is the real threat for Partizan tonight and he gives United a taster of his threat with a run which causes Maguire to give away a free-kick.
From it the Partizan striker heads over at the back post.
Arsenal should be able to beat a Vitoria team that has lost both of its Europa League games so far, though the Portuguese side are in better form domestically.
2-1 is our prediction
When is it?
Kick off at the Emirates Stadium is 8pm BST.
How can I watch it?
The game will be aired live on BT Sport 2, with coverage beginning at 8pm.
Subscribers to BT Sport can watch the game online via the BT Sport player, or on the BT Sport app.
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