Arsenal: Europa League isn’t the laughing matter it was last year

With Arsenal’s top four hopes slipping away with every passing game, it seems they must prioritize something – Champions League football via the Europa League.

Arsenal are seemingly out of the running for top four this season after that humiliating loss to fifth place Tottenham. After that defeat, all hope of a top-four finish vanished. Now they must target the Europa League as a consolation trophy.

Arsenal face Ostersunds FK in the first round of the knock-out stages. Of course, fans are thinking they got the easiest draw possible, but with this club, anything can happen.

With league play a perennial struggle of consistency, it could just be a morale booster to play a club of their standard. Ostersunds could come out all guns blazing and surprise them.

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Arsene Wenger has promised to play a full-strength side in this match. He said recently in an interview with the Mirror UK:

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"“I would have any way gone for it. Especially as we have no game between the two matches. I will play the normal team because it is one of the opportunities we have especially because we don’t play in the FA Cup.”"

Given the new injury sneak attack, the Gunners will be without Alexandre Lacazette leading the line. After his unfortunate misses and blunders in the last game, Wenger could well have used this as a confidence booster. Now that luxury doesn’t exist.

Wenger might also opt for Aaron Ramsey if he is fit enough, as he missed out on the North London Derby through injury. Sead Kolasinac might get a start on the left, he seems to have fallen down the pecking order. Maybe some rotation would benefit this Arsenal side and show that no spot in the starting XI is guaranteed.

Arsenal’s Europa League opponents

With other big clubs in the competition as well you can see why Wenger is sticking with his first XI. Borussia Dortmund, Sporting CP, Athletico Madrid, AC Milan, and Olympique Lyonnais are all waiting at some point, although we will ideally see a healthy chunk of them eliminated by time the next draw comes around.

They are all vying for the trophy as well. Arsenal are in for a tough competition, we will have to see how the players handle all the pressure.

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It’s the best possible opportunity for a struggling club with top four seemingly out of their reach. If Arsene Wenger decides to stick with his first team we could see a blow out against Ostersunds. They might not have the quality to match their visitors, but they will have a packed house and all the heart for the fight, which is often the Gunner’s kryptonite. It’s all up to the players on whether they want Champions League next season.