Arsenal have travelled to Belarus to face BATE Borisov as they continue their Europa League travels.
The Gunners opened up their Europa League campaign with a 3-1 win over German side Cologne at the Emirates.
Saed Kolasinac, Alexis Sanchez and Hector Bellerin all found the net having fallen behind early on.
Arsene Wenger will be hoping that continues on Thursday night.
Mesut Ozil is a doubt, as is Alex Iwobi and Kolasinac - with the trio all failing to training on Wednesday morning.
Youngsters Charlie Dragomir, Charlie Gilmour, Eddie Nketiah, Josh DaSilva, Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock, Matt Macey, Chuba Akpom and Marcus McGuane have all flown out to eastern Europe.
Wenger will be talking from 6pm in preview for the game at the Borisov Arena.
Arsenal squad
According the man from the Press Association out in Belarus there are plenty of first team faces who haven’t flown.
Apparently 10 stars haven’t flown out for the Europa League clash.
Could be a very young team.
Wenger out
And then that was that.
Here he is leaving the presser.
Wenger on why Alex Hleb left
“At that time Barca were the best team, you can understand why he did it.
“It was not the right decision by him, it had a negative impact on his career.”
Wenger on crowd trouble
I spoke too soon, the limelight is being share...back to Wenger who has been asked about previous racist chants at BATE.
“I don’t have any preconceived ideas. I hope that won’t happen.”
Mertesacker on youngsters
“We see a lot of young players training with us. The have a good future here. To get an opportunity to play is big for a young group.
“It’s a really good test to see who is willing to learn.
“Ainsley is a prospect, but there is a lot of hard work to come.
Arsene Wenger
That’s the end of Wenger.
Now on to Mertesacker.
Wenger on Maitland-Niles
“His best position is central defensive midfielder. He has great quality, he can steal the ball without making fouls. I believe he is ready to play.
“He has a great future.”
Wenger on his young stars
“It’s a good test for the young players. They will have to cope with that intimidating atmosphere. It will be very loud.”
Wenger on Belarus football
“I have been in this country before.
“I came with the French national team.
“Technically they always have good sides, France had a very difficult game here.
“We watched them yesterday, they are a team of good quality who are strong and well organised.”
Wenger on Alex Hleb
“I will meet (Alex). He’s coming tonight to meet us.
“I will ask him how he’s doing now.”
Wenger on team selection
“I said on Monday that I would play an experienced team with a young bench - that’s what I’ll do.
“We have a tight schedule. It’s an important game, only one or two young players will start.”
Arsene Wenger's arrrived
Wenger is in the hot seat.
He is flanked by Per Mertesacker who will also speak.
Jack Wilshere fires Arsene Wenger a message with impressive trick goal in Arsenal training
Jack Wilshere has shot Arsene Wenger an impressive message with a creative goal in Arsenal training.
The central midfielder has only featured twice for Arsenal this season and neither of those games have come in the league. The 25-year-old started in the Gunners’ 1-0 League Cup win over Doncaster and came off the bench during Arsenal’s 3-1 Europa League win over FC Koln.
And after not playing a single minute against West Brom on Monday, it is expected the midfielder will start against BATE on Thursday.
And in a bid to cement his place in Wenger’s starting XI, Wilshere performed an impressive trick shot.
The England international delicately chips the ball onto the bar of the goal nearest him, sending it into a separate goal behind.
Arsene Wenger packs his squad with youngsters as Arsenal fly out for their Europa League clash with BATE Borisov
Arsene Wenger is set to give a set of academy stars a chance in Arsenal’s Europa League clash with BATE Borisov.
The Gunners flew out to Belarus from Luton Airport on Wednesday with uncapped youngsters such as Charlie Dragomir and Charlie Gilmour jetting out.
Eddie Nketiah, Josh DaSilva, Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock, Matt Macey, Chuba Akpom and Marcus McGuane are also in tow.
Mesut Ozil, Alex Iwobi and Saed Kolasinac all failed to train on Thursday morning and are unlikely to face BATE.
French boss Wenger blamed a tight fixture schedule, which sees the north London side face Brighton on Sunday lunchtime, for his youthful team.
“We play in BATE Borisov on Thursday night and play Sunday morning at 12 o’clock here,” Wenger said.
“So we look at the schedule over the weekend, we think there was some room for us to be different. But we have to accept it and we want to go to Borisov with a team.
“I will go with a team of senior players and certainly with a young bench.”
