Arsenal: Europa League draw offers growing potential

Arsenal have been drawn against CSKA Moscow in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. The draw as a whole offers a growing potential in the competition.

Arsenal dismantled AC Milan in an impressive double-legged performance in the last-16 of the Europa League. While there were moments of uncertainty, some missed opportunities, for both teams, and some rather fortunate decisions, for the most part, this was a comfortable and consummate triumph.

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That put them in the draw for the quarter-finals in a competition that is now the sole priority of the remaining months of the campaign. With the Carabao Cup final lost, the FA Cup never an endeavour thanks to a humiliating third-round loss to Nottingham Forest, and the Premier League inconsequential with the top four seemingly out of reach, the Europa League is all that is left for the Gunners to plough their resources into.

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Important, then, for them to receive a kind draw. And there were certainly some difficult ties that could have caused some great trouble. The most notable, Atletico Madrid, who are the favourites for the competition, dismantled Lokomotiv Moscow 8-1 in the last 16, while the likes of Lazio, RB Leipzig and Marseille all offered tricky trips, if not quite the same daunting task as Los Colchoneros.

Thankfully for Arsenal, while not getting as kind a draw as say Manchester United last year who faced Anderlecht at this stage in the competition, being drawn against CSKA Moscow unquestionably could have been a whole lot worse. The travel isn’t nice — Moscow is the furthest distance from North London — and the political climate between the UK and Russia could make it a spicy affair, but in true context, not many complaints can be had.

Moreover, of the possible challengers in the competition, some did not quite receive nice draws. Madrid will face Sporting Lisbon, which is not too bad, but Lazio must take on Borussia Dortmund conquerers Red bull Salzburg, while Marseille and RB Leipzig were drawn against one another.

An early glance at the likely semi-final line-up reads something like Arsenal, Atletico, Lazio and RB Leipzig. None would be especially easy opponents, but at that stage of a European competition, and considering the strength of the teams in the earlier rounds — Napoli and Borussia Dortmund have both exited in the prior two stages –, it could be much worse.

For the Gunners, then, this is an extremely winnable competition. And that is something that should not be overlooked. Not only is it a path back into next season’s Champions League, with that endeavour looking extremely unlikely through the Premier League, but it is a European trophy. That is an achievement that has eluded Arsene Wenger throughout his 22-year tenure.

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Consequently, to win the Europa League would be a great honour. It may suffer disrespect in the media, but for Arsenal, it would be an excellent victory, one that should, and I believe will, be celebrated.