Europa League: What Chelsea and Arsenal need to do to win their groups
Chelsea and Arsenal may have already guaranteed their progress to the knockout rounds of the Europa League, but there is still something to play for in both of their fixtures on Thursday evening.
What Chelsea need
The Blues can clinch top spot in Group L and, in theory, an easier draw in the last 32 with a game to spare when they welcome Greek league leaders PAOK to Stamford Bridge.
A home win would sew up first place regardless of results elsewhere, but even a draw is sufficient for the west Londoners if Vidi, who are a distant second, do not win at BATE Borisov.
PAOK are bottom of the group but can keep their hopes of advancing alive with a draw, depending on results elsewhere.
Chelsea have been efficient if largely unspectacular in the Europa League this season, taking maximum points from their four games but winning all but one of them 1-0.
An early goal from Willian earned them victory over PAOK by that scoreline when the sides met in Salonika in September.
Unbeaten domestically, PAOK have 10 wins from 11 games in the Greek Super League but just one so far in Group L, 4-1 at BATE on matchday two.
In the visitors’ favour, however, is the absence of Chelsea’s chief threat Eden Hazard, who sustained an ankle knock during Saturday’s first defeat of the season against Tottenham.
What Arsenal need
Arsenal’s trip to Ukraine to face Vorskla Poltava is more complicated, not least because doubts remained over whether the game would go ahead – or, if it did, in which city – with just 24 hours until kick-off.
The Gunners, too, have only to nail down first place in Group E, which they will do if they win – or failing that, match the result of their nearest challengers, Sporting Lisbon.
Vorskla are must better Sporting’s result to have any chance of beating the Portuguese to second place.
Unai Emery’s team have coasted through the campaign so far, swatting aside Vorskla 4-2 and Qarabag 3-0 before two tighter contests – a 1-0 win and 0-0 draw – with Sporting.
They ended a run of three consecutive draws in the Premier League with victory at Bournemouth on Sunday.
Vorskla are seeking a more dramatic improvement, having lost their last three games in all competitions.