Rapid Vienna vs Arsenal preview

Team news and stats ahead of Rapid Vienna vs Arsenal in their opening Europa League group stage game on Thursday; Kick-off 5.55pm.

Team news

Arsenal defender Rob Holding misses out on the trip to Vienna and is likely to be sidelined for around three weeks with a hamstring strain.

The 25-year-old’s absence is a blow to the Gunners, but while they are set to welcome back Calum Chambers and Shkodran Mustafi, the Europa League tie comes too soon.

Thomas Partey is in contention to make his full debut having come off the bench in the defeat to Manchester City.

Both Mesut Ozil or Sokratis Papastathopoulos have been left of Arsenal’s Europa League squad, but Mikel Arteta could turn to academy graduates Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock.

How to follow

Follow Rapid Vienna vs Arsenal with our dedicated live blog across Sky Sports’ digital platforms, plus analysis and reaction after full-time.

Opta stats

• This will be the first meeting between Rapid Vienna and Arsenal; Rapid Vienna won their last match against English opponents beating Aston Villa 3-2 at Villa Park in a Europa League qualifying match in 2010-11.
• Arsenal’s last Austrian opponents were Austria Wien in the 1991-92 European Cup – they beat them 6-1 at home before losing 0-1 in Austria.
• This is Rapid Vienna’s eighth Europa League campaign, reaching the knockout stages on two occasions previously – 2015-16 and 2018-19.
• This is Arsenal’s fourth consecutive season in the Europa League, reaching the semi-final in 2017-18, the final in 2018-19 and the Last 32 in 2019-20.
• Bukayo Saka was directly involved in more goals in the Europa League last season than any other Arsenal player, registering two goals and five assists in six appearances.