UEL R32: Arsenal vs BATE Borisov | February 21, 2019 17:55 GMT | BT Sport

[Camron]

Push-ups paid off. Let's hope for a vintage WC Mesut performance.

 

[Furious]

Torreira dropped, Iwobi and Mhki next. Blimey.

 

[Jasard]

So much pressure on Özil to perform

 

[A_G]

Forget about your Özil agenda.

My what?

 

[GDeep™]

My what?

Özil agenda .

 

[A_G]

Özil agenda .

I don't have one.

 

[razörist]

I don't have one.

 

[Manberg]

Özil going to terrorise that Bate defence

 

[berric]

Can't watch this but I see it's back 4 and Emery's favorite formation that includes Özil too so this should be nice. No excuses.

 

[elemoo]

I predict there will be a massive overreaction to Özil's performance whether it's good or bad.

Tbf, we have been starved of any type of flowing football of late or creative presence - so yeah if Özil puts in 2-3 goal scoring opportunities and frees up space for others to get involved with his off the ball movement, it's well within reason for many to think "this was so refreshing to watch" especially if you compare it to the first leg.

If he plays poorly, then obviously the excuse of not being 100% match fit which is also a reasonable explanation.

I personally think he will be 5/10 by his standards... people often say he's not consistent but i think we need to clarify that he has played very consistently average most of this season and last... but his average for Özil is better than anyone else and i cant think of many in the team who have played consistently well this season.... maybe Laca(?)

 

[A_G]

Literally been defending Özil for years on here.

 

[Garrincha]

Social media guy added to the Emery hitlist. Seems far too happy.

 

[MikeVinna]

Decent enough line-up apart from Lichtsteiner starting and Torreira being dropped..

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Still this team in serious need for width what huge difference would make when you have good wingers start with Auba and Özil instead of watching mkhi Iwobi week in week out

 

[Garrincha]

I can see a fresh Torreira being needed vs Southampton.

 

[squallman]

BBC:

There is just one change to the Bate Borisov side who won 1-0 last week. Former Arsenal defender Aleksandr Hleb drops to the bench and Slobodan Simovic comes in.

I know Hleb didn't like to score goals, didn't rack up a ton of assists and was overrated to high heaven but come on, this is a little harsh from the Beeb.

 

[Slartibartfast]

For those in the U.S., the game is on Galavision (en espanol) or on the Univision website. If you need the game in English, it's behind an online paywall.

 

[Oh_Snap]

I predict there will be a massive overreaction to Özil's performance whether it's good or bad.

Already got one if he plays bad: it was just to get Emery sacked!

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

If we win BATE Borisov with Özil after losing without him it will confirm to me that Özil is better than Dennis Bergkamp and probably a second coming of Jesus!

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

There will be more empty seats today because of sh**ty game time