PSV can qualify for the knockout phase of the Europa League on Thursday evening. The team of coach Ruud van Nistelrooij will take on Arsenal in a sold-out Philips Stadium and is also dependent on the result in the game between FC Zurich and FK Bodø/Glimt. It Eindhovens Dagblad expects Luuk de Jong to return to the base. It would be his first base appearance for the striker since Rangers home at the end of August.
In contrast to the past few months, Van Nistelrooij has a large number of players at his disposal. Only Yorbe Vertessen, Olivier Boscagli, Ismael Saibari and goalkeeper Kjell Peersman are still in the basket. De Jong, Mauro Júnior and Marco van Ginkel are all present again. Madueke is also part of the selection. The attacker participated in half against FC Groningen. He is expected to start on the bench against Arsenal. The flanks should be covered by Xavi Simons and Cody Gakpo.
In the midfield there is again a place for Erick Gutiérrez. The Mexican stayed on the bench against FC Groningen (4-2) for ninety minutes, but can show it again against Arsenal. Joey Veerman and Ibrahim Sangaré are the other midfielders. De Jong’s base place is at the expense of Til, who was in the rush last Sunday. In the rear, Jordan Teze loses his starting spot. Van Nistelrooij chooses to start with Phillipp Mwene as right back. He sees Armando Obispo, André Ramalho and Philipp Max next to him in the rear.
Arsenal are already assured of the knockout phase with twelve points from four games, but will want to push through as group head anyway. “I expect that their line-up will not differ much from last week,” Van Nistelrooij said during the press conference on Wednesday. Last week Mikel Arteta started with quite a few reserve players. Van Nistelrooij does not expect a decision in Group A on Thursday. “The most likely is that it will only be decided next week in Norway.”
Probable PSV line-up: Benitez; Mwene, Ramalho, Obispo, Max; Sangare, Veerman, Gutierrez; Simons, DeJong, Gakpo.