Mikel Arteta’s team will welcome the return of fans who have been absent from the stadium for nine months amid the coronavirus pandemic.
However, they will also be hoping to return to winning ways, having slipped to a 2-1 defeat in their Premier League tie against Wolves last weekend. Despite that disappointing result, Arsenal will expect to repeat their win over Rapid Vienna from the first round of the group stage.
The Gunners have already booked their place in the round of 32, while Vienna sit third in Group B heading into the penultimate round of fixtures.
Here’s everything you need to know about the match:
The game kicks off at 8pm BST on Thursday 3 December.
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 2. Subscribers can also stream the match via the BT Sport website or app.
Arsenal will be without a number of players as Thomas Partey’s thigh injury is worse than first thought, with his return likely to be delayed. Sead Kolasinac is still self-isolating due to his positive Covid-19 test, while Gabriel Martinelli is just returning to training following his knee injury.
David Luiz is also out following his collision with Raul Jiminez on Sunday, which left the Wolves player with a fractured skull. Nicolas Pepe should be in the starting XI amid his domestic suspension, while Reiss Nelson – who was dropped for Willian at the weekend in spite of his impressive performance at Molde – is expected to play on the opposite flank.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continued to struggle against Wolves despite playing in a more central position, and so could make way for Alexandre Lacazette or Eddie Nketiah.
As for the visitors, midfield duo Dejan Petrovic and Dejan Ljubicic are close to returning to play, but Arsenal’s match will come too soon for both players.
Big changes are not likely, but Taxiarchis Fountas did make an appearance in the Vienna derby on Sunday and should start on Thursday. After scoring against Arsenal in their last clash in October, he will be dreaming of doing the same at the Emirates.
Arsenal: Runarsson, Cedric, Mustafi, Mari, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Nelson, Elneny, Pepe, Nketiah, Lacazette
Rapid Vienna (predicted): Gartler, Stojkovic, Hofmann, Barac, Ullmann, Grahovac, Knasmullner, Schick, Demir, Fountas, Kara
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