- Arsenal beat BATE 4-2 (a), 6-0 (h) last season
- BATE lost twice to Chelsea in the group stage
- BATE wrapped up their 13th Belarusian league title in a row – and 15th overall – in November. They are now one shy of the European record for consecutive league titles, held jointly by Latvia's Skonto and Lincoln of Gibraltar
- Aleksandr Hleb is enjoying his fifth spell at BATE (1999–2000, 2012–13, 2015, 2016, 2018–). The 37-year-old midfielder played for Arsenal from 2005–08, making 130 appearances, including the 2006 UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona, the club he joined from the Gunners two years later.
- Shkodran Mustafi made his senior debut in Everton's 1-0 UEFA Europa League group stage defeat at home to BATE in December 2009. The then 17-year-old came on as a substitute in the second half.
Sokratis still out, could be back for the 2nd leg
Ramsey & Xhaka doubts
Mavropanos not in the squad
With no game at the weekend, this is a good opportunity to go full strength and wrap the tie up before resting players in the 2nd leg. Don't think Mkhitaryan will start again so soon after injury so it's a good chance for Suarez to make his full debut.