Arsenal Vs Ostersunds: 5 things we learned – Job done

4. Carabao Cup final can be prioritised

If you were to take a quick look at Arsenal’s fixtures in the latter half of February, it would not take you long to work out which was their most important game. After the North London derby, the Gunners only play three games this month — the two legs against Ostersunds in the Europa League and the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.

Crucially, it is the Carabao Cup final that is the last of these games. It comes just three day after the second leg of the last-32 Europa League tie. Arsene Wenger, then, will be extremely happy that his side have wrapped up this double-legged affair in the first game, meaning that he can make changes to his line-up next week without worrying over the potential ramifications.

Even a weakened Arsenal side should maintain a three-goal advantage over an opposition of Ostersunds’ quality. This advantage gives Wenger the perfect opportunity to do that, resting the likes of Mesut Ozil, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Laurent Koscielny, who, it shouldn’t go unnoticed, did not feature in the first leg and will essentially be given a two-week break right at the heart of the season. The Carabao Cup final can now be prioritised. That makes a big difference.