Arsenal: Petr Cech valuing Europa League refreshing

Petr Cech has stated that Arsenal should value the Europa League this season as it is a chance to win a trophy. Such a refreshing stance is nice to see. It will be acutely interesting to see if Arsene Wenger agrees.

Traditionally, Arsene Wenger has used the domestic cups as a springboard to offer precious first team experience to many of the exciting young players that he has in his squad. Given his desire to push the development of young players as a key principle of Arsenal, it is important that he is able to work these players into the first team at some point.

Typically, the point of graduating from the junior ranks and entering the seniors is what causes the most difficulties. Those that have been physically dominant at younger levels no longer have that advantage. Opponents are far wilier, with greater experience and understanding, undertaking the little, unnoticeable things – the tug of a shirt here, a knock off balance there, a slight positional adjustment, releasing the ball a little quicker and sharper. Adjusting can be a prolonged and frustrating process.

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And that is why Wenger uses the cups in this way. With less pressure and expectation in these lesser valued competitions, he can offer senior experience to those in a freer environment, not the heavily-scrutinised, under-the-microscope setting of the Premier League or Champions League.

But this year, there is a competition that is a little betwixt and between. The Europa League is not the almost meaningless and negligible domestic cup that is seen as much as a distraction as a goal; but neither is it the glory of its bigger brother, the Champions League. As such, it will be extremely interesting to see how Wenger addresses the competition. Will he value it, playing a near full-strength side in a wholehearted attempt to win it? Or will he use it as an opportunity, offering game time to reserve and youth players?

We will know the answer to that question on Thursday, as FC Koln come to the Emirates to open the group stages. But in the lead up to the commencing tie, Petr Cech, when asked about how his Chelsea side chose to embrace the competition, ultimately winning it under Rafa Benitez, presented a refreshing attitude by delineating it as a European trophy that should be fought for:

"“We decided that it was the first time and hopefully the last time we played the Europa League and we wanted to win it. You decide how to approach it. You go in it to win it, give yourself a chance to do it or make different priorities and then see how it goes. It’s always nice to win a European trophy, regardless of which one it is.”"

I am perhaps more of the persuasion that I would like to see Wenger rest the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Laurent Koscielny et al. and play those who are unable to force their way into the side in the league. However, the fact that a player as accomplished and decorated as Cech still chooses to value the Europa League shows that, even if Wenger does play a much-weakened side in the group stages, if Arsenal are to progress into the latter stages, then perhaps the competition takes on a new value and importance.

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Wenger has never been in this position before; he has always qualified for the Champions League, a competition that is unquestionably valued. So, it will be interesting to see how he chooses to handle the Europa League. After all, it is a European trophy, something that Arsenal haven’t won since 1994.

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