Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe are both available for Arsenal but David Luiz and Kieran Tierney miss out; follow the first leg of Europa League quarter-final tie at the Emirates (kick-off 8pm) with our dedicated live blog across Sky Sports' digital platforms
Thursday 8 April 2021 18:38, UK
Team news, stats, kick-off time ahead of Arsenal vs Slavia Prague in the Europa League on Thursday (kick-off 8pm).
Arsenal have been boosted by the return of Emile Smith Rowe, who is back in full training and available for selection at the Emirates after a recent thigh injury.
Bukayo Saka is also fit following a hamstring problem, while Granit Xhaka has overcome a bout of illness.
Kieran Tierney is out for between four to six weeks with a knee injury but will not require surgery, while Martin Odegaard is being assessed for an ankle complaint since being on international duty.
David Luiz has undergone a small procedure on his right knee and will miss the clash but should be back to full fitness in the next few weeks.
Slavia Prague's Ondrej Kudela has been provisionally suspended for the first leg as UEFA also opened disciplinary proceedings against Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara over their clash in the Europa League match last month.
The visitors are already depleted at centre-back with Simon Deli and David Hovorka also out, but Abdallah Sima is available despite a domestic ban.
Eighteen-year-old goalkeeper Matyas Vagner is set to start in goal despite being sent off after just 18 minutes at the weekend with first-choice Ondrej Kolar doubtful with a sinus fracture sustained against Rangers.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitted he was "in shock" after Saturday's 3-0 Premier League loss to Liverpool. The contest was so one-sided, debate turned quickly to whether Arsenal have improved under Arteta. The Spaniard's win percentage in the league from his first 50 games in charge is only 42 per cent.
His predecessor Unai Emery, now in charge of fellow Europa League quarter-finalists Villarreal, had a 49 per cent win percentage from his 51 games there. Exciting youngsters like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have emerged, but Arteta needs to see signs of real improvement against Slavia Prague to silence some of the background noise.
Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela will not be at the Emirates. Kundela has been handed a provisional one-match ban after being accused of racially abusing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara last month.
Kudela faces a minimum 10-game ban if found guilty of insulting the "human dignity" of Kamara on the grounds of his skin colour and race, but his no-show in London has prevented Police Scotland from questioning the 34-year-old with regards to their criminal investigation against him.
Follow Arsenal vs Slavia Prague with our dedicated live blog across Sky Sports' digital platforms.