Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 win over Bodo/Glimt with a much-changed team in London last week and the Gunners will be targeting a similar victory when they visit Norway for the return fixture this evening. With more fringe players eager to impress Mikel Arteta, another strong Arsenal performance in the Europa League is anticipated.
Below, we’ve gathered together some useful info on shots, corners, cards, fouls, goals, assists and more from the teams’ domestic campaigns. Use this stats pack as well as my Stats Pack Guide to construct stronger Bodo/Glimt vs Arsenal bet builder coupons this evening.
Predicted Lineups
Sondre Fet is Bodo/Glimt’s only injured player at present so Kjetil Knutsen goes with a similar XI to the one that played at The Emirates Stadium last week.
Bodo/Glimt bounced back from their reverse in London with a 4-1 win over Sandefjord in the Eliteserien on Sunday.
Mohamed Elneny, Emile Smith Rowe and Oleksandr Zinchenko are all currently in the treatment room for Arsenal and will miss today’s game.
As always, there is a certain amount of guesswork when it comes to predicting Arsenal’s teams in the Europa League, though Eddie Nketiah, Fabio Vieira, and Rob Holding were certain to start.
Team Stats
Bodo/Glimt are inching towards the climax of their domestic campaign and while the Eliteserien title is out of reach, their stats for the season are nonetheless impressive.
Glimt have been hitting 2.56 goals and 18.84 shots per 90 minutes in Norway and though they were soundly beaten by Arsenal last week, they did manage to rack up eight attempts at The Emirates, with four of those efforts hitting the target.
Arsenal continued their superb early surge in the Premier League with a 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday and the Gunners’ xG (2.14) and shots on target for (6.22) figures per 90 are among the best in the division.
The Gunners have also been winning a good number of corners (5.67 p/90) in England and they won six of those to Bodo/Glimt’s zero in London a week ago.
Player Shots and Shots on Target
Amahl Pellegrino (3.71 shots p/90), Runar Espejord (2.87) and Joel Mugisha Mvuka (1.82) have all been posting impressive numbers in Norway this term, as have midfielders Hugo Vetlesen (3.04) and Ulrik Saltnes (2.32).
While the same players’ stats in the Europa League aren’t quite as head-turning, it’s interesting to note that Saltnes (three shots), Pellegrino (two shots) and Vetlesen (two) shots made a decent impression at The Emirates on matchday two.
Eddie Nketiah and Fabio Vieira were heavily involved in the final third for Arsenal last Thursday, racking up four and five attempts respectively against Bodo/Glimt and both attack-minded players should be worth watching again this evening.
Interestingly, Gabriel Martinelli played for an hour last week, though the Brazilian didn’t seem to be playing at full pelt and he didn’t have a single attempt. Saka starts today and averages over 2 shts p/90 in the league.
Player Goals and Assists
Amahl Pellegrino scored his 21st Eliteserien goal of the campaign against Sandejford at the weekend, while Hugo Vetlesen hit his 10th and 11th in the same game. Vetlesen has also buried a chance in the Europa League this term, though Pellegrino has yet to register.
Ulrik Saltnes (seven assists) has offered a consistent supply line domestically, though he hasn’t yet created a goal in Europa. Hugo Vetlesen looks likelier there. The 22-year-old has been averaging 3.3 key passes per game in the UEL compared to Saltnes’s 0.7.
Gabriel Jesus is wrapped in cotton wool this evening, though Eddie Nketiah and Fabio Vieira look like solid alternatives in the anytime scorer’s market.
Nketiah scored last week and found the net against Zurich on matchday one, while Fabio Vieira has two goal contributions (1G, 1A) in as many games in the Europa League for the Gunners.
Bodo/Glimt Cards
Brice Wembangomo (3 cards) has a reputation for hitting hard in Norway and the defender was booked after just 33 minutes against Arsenal last week. The 25-year-old has been committing 1.7 fouls per game in the Europa League this term.
Right-back Alfons Sampsted was also carded in London last Thursday and he committed more fouls (2) than any other Bodo/Glimt player on the night. Hugo Veltesen didn’t show much bite last week, though he usually isn’t shy about sticking his boot in (0.91 fouls p/90) and he’s picked up three cautions in Norway.
Striker Eddie Nketiah’s movement should trouble card-happy Brice Wembango again, while Albert Lokonga, who has been fouled 2.73 times p/90 domestically, could be on the end of some tasty challenges from Hugo Veltesen.
Match-Ups to watch
Marius Hoibraten vs Eddie Nketiah
Brice Wembangomo vs Bukayo Saka
Hugo Veltesen vs Albert Sambi Lokonga
Arsenal Cards
Granit Xhaka was the only Arsenal player shown a yellow card last week but the combative Swiss midfielder is benched today.
Only Eddie Nketiah ranks on the fouls list who starts today, so it’s better to look at the Bodo/Glimt fouls drawn data next up.
Runar Espejord has been Bodo/Glimt’s most fouled forward in the Europa League this season and the 26-year-old could cause a headache or two for the impetuous Takehiro Tomiyasu if given the chance.
Joel Mugisha Mvuka (fouled 1.44 times p/90 in Norway) will hope to trouble Gabriel Magalhaes with his burst inside from the flank, while Hugo Veltesen (1.22) will be aiming to get on the wrong side of Granit Xhaka in midfield. If that happens, the sometimes-cynical Xhaka will be happy to foul his opponent.
Match-Ups to watch
Ben White vs Brice Embangomo
Albert Sambi Lokonga vs Hugo Vetlesen
Martin Odegaard vs Alfons Sampsted
