With Alex Lacazette's suspension having been reduced and consequently completed, Unai Emery now heads into this vital game with only one fit senior player absent as Sokratis serves his one match ban. Still good news nonetheless as one could argue that Sokratis is replaceable, whilst Lacazette of late has been in the form of his Gunners career so far. And as Rennes come to town with a 3-1 lead, they are likely to sit in on their cushion at least for the opening half or so which will mean Lacazette's runs and link up play could be pivotal.
The visitors truly bashed Arsenal in every department last week, although Sokratis' pointless red card didn't help proceedings at all. Arsenal defensively weren't great but besides the opening cross-shot come goal from Alex Iwobi, there was very little created and even less actually converted on goal. That has to change tomorrow night otherwise it's goodbye to the Europa League and potentially next seaon's Champions League. Rennes are a dangerous team on the counter - as they've shown so nothing but the best from Arsenal will get the job done.
We saw Emery go bold at the weekend in a must win game. This too is a must win game but with Lucas Torreira now back in the fold after domestic suspension, there should be a little more defensive protection should he feature this time around. With Lacazette now available, Emery has a tough decision to make as every single starting player on Sunday against Manchester United was either very good or excellent. The same is required again so could the man in charge go with an unchanged setup? It's unlikely as he'll probably want Torreira back in the line up to shield his defence and with Sokratis unavailable, a back three seems unlikely. However, with Mkhitaryan missing from the weekend and therefore unlikely to start tomorrow night, Torreira in midfield would allow the full backs in a flat back four to press on a little more. We saw how dangerous Maitland-Niles and Kolasinac were in the wing back roles against United and the same is expected should they both play - regardless of formation.
In midfield and upfront, Emery has another headache. Does he fit both his star strikers, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey into the same team again? It is possible as a 4-2-2-2 would do the job, and with goals needed, it isn't that unlikely but it seems so gung-ho considering the tie is balancing on a knife edge. One away goal from Rennes and it's a mountain to climb, whilst one goal from Arsenal early and it's a nervy affair for the visitors. A flat back four with the superbly in-form Granit Xhaka and the returning Lucas Torreira in front with an attacking front four left to get the goals would stand in Arsenal in good stead in terms of chasing goals but how would it leave us defensively? Koscielny and Mustafi is the likely central partnership and with Cech in goal behind, it's shown to be a shaky unit of late. All that aside though, after an excellent performance from all that started the game against United on Sunday, does Emery have a reason to leave any of those still available out of his starting XI? He'll find it tough that's for sure.
The visitors have shown on more than one occasion that through Hatem Ben Arfa, they have a true playmaker, tempo-setter and main man. He lit up Brittany last week and ran the show for much of the game so the Gunners again need to be cautious. One would imagine that Rennes will opt to play on the counter again and much like last week, will hope that Arsenal open themselves up will plenty of possession and forward pressing. Rennes scored three good goals and will be confident of scoring in Arsenal's back yard this time around. However, Arsenal are likely to see even more of the ball than they did last week and at least now they know the score and know what needs doing. Much like the BATE tie last round, come the second leg, Arsenal knew exactly what was required to progress and after the opening fifteen minutes or so, it was never in doubt. Exciting attacker Ismaila Sarr scored the third and final goal for Rennes last week and he'll again be looking to drive his team forward at pace. He looked dangerous throughout the game and on a big Emirates pitch against either Kolasinac or Monreal, he'll be confident of a run or two. In midfield areas, Rennes proved to be just as solid as they got stuck in, got around the pitch and led by example. Arsenal's midfield needs to match this dynamic enthusiasm tomorrow night if they stand any chance of progressing on in this season's Europa League.
Expected lineup:
GK: Petr Cech
RB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CB: Shkodran Mustafi
CB: Laurent Koscielny
LB: Sead Kolasinac
CM: Granit Xhaka
CM: Lucas Torreira
RAM: Aaron Ramsey
LAM: Mesut Ozil
ST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
ST: Alex Lacazette
Prediction: Arsenal can do this, and a 3-0 win will do the job nicely with Lacazette and Aubameyang back on the score sheet.
@craigbennett10
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