Arsenal can turn pressure on Slavia's first pass into a short-field attack. Viking's wide supply meets a Sabah side with both a direct midfield exit and a restart receiver. The first goal in each game has to be weighed against the next independent box entry.
Arsenal's Rice and Ødegaard can protect the first pass, while a high regain or Gabriel and Konsa at a restart can create separate finishes. Saka missed Arsenal's last three games and remains out, and Slavia's Provod is unavailable as a starter after supplying an earlier European reply. Saliba is available after missing Arsenal's last game, though his start is unconfirmed. I expect Arsenal's pressure and second-ball work to keep reaching the Slavia box, so I'm siding with Arsenal.
Viking can deliver through Tripić and Haugen to Botheim, but Christiansen played the last match before leaving training with hamstring stiffness, and his start or bench role is being managed. Sabah's Lepinjica, Parris, Mickels, Puchacz and McCarthy all played their latest verified European match, giving them both a pass behind advanced fullbacks and a dead-ball connection. Viking's longer-term absentees already missed their last game, while Sabah's Simić is doubtful after previously playing. I expect those Sabah replies to keep the game closely contested, so I'm siding with Sabah Baku.
