Rennes vs Arsenal: 5 key players to avoid the nervous twitches

2. Henrikh Mkhitaryan

No player has been at the level of Henrikh Mkhitaryan over the past four weeks. He has been molding himself to fit each individual match and it has made him look like an absolute genius for four straight matches. I was celebrating after two matches, I was giddy after three, so when he played to the same level against Tottenham, I was over the moon.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

There a nagging chance that Unai Emery doesn’t start Mkhitaryan in order to give him a break, given that Manchester United is coming at the weekend, but I don’t think that Unai Emery is going to be willing to leave the Armenian out entirely, not with how good he has been. He’ll probably still get a start and play at least a half, and we will be so much better off because of it.

It was against BATE Borisov in the second leg that Mkhitaryan first drove himself into the spotlight and he hasn’t looked back since. I fully expect him to have a rip-roaring match against Rennes, with his drive and determination seemingly unstoppable, even by Premier League opposition.

And, when Manchester United comes around, expect Mkhitaryan to be right back here on the list respective to that match, because where else would he be? He is on a tear and until he shows any sign of letting up, he is our primary attacking force.

But he’s still not No. 1. No, that belongs to someone else.