Arsenal: Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the unlikely handcuff

Arsenal move into this match against Rennes needing something conclusive, and thus do we see the handcuff that Henrikh Mkhitaryan suddenly puts us in.

Last time Arsenal were headed into the away first leg of a Europa League knockout stage, we drastically underrated the opposition. Or maybe we just drastically underplayed in the attack, but whatever the case, the major theme behind this trip to Rennes is not making the same mistake.

It’s tough, because Manchester United are coming up on Sunday, so I’m sure Unai Emery would love to spot some key players a rest before that key clash, but he also can’t take the foot off the gas and risk another BATE Borisov.

Honestly, the one player that I am concerned about is Henrikh Mkhitaryan, because the absolute worst thing that could happen right now is a Mkhitaryan injury or burn out.

I never like to go down the road of “we simply have to start this player, or that player” because honestly, this club is deeper than they are given credit for, when healthy. The problem this season has been fluctuating health.

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Which Mkhitaryan has been right at the heart of, what with the fluctuating health and the otherwise inconsistent form.

But now that Mkhitaryan has truly hit his stride, I am at that point where I honestly can’t imagine being without him. He is the lynchpin of this attack, he pops up everywhere, he begins attacks from anywhere and he has a sense of urgency that you don’t find out of the likes of Alex Iwobi or Mesut Ozil. It’s like he’s thinking “if I don’t score right this moment, I’ll never score again.”

That’s why Mkhitaryan provides the biggest hang up going into this match against Rennes, because even asking him for 45 minutes of high quality football puts him at significant risk. Risk that could be mitigated if we trusted our other attacking midfielders. Which I’m not sure that we do.

I will celebrate if Mkhitaryan is not in the starting XI today. I will high five everyone within arm’s reach. But then I’ll get worried and hope that whoever is in his stead – likely Mesut Ozil – can pick up the slack and deliver.

Of course, then you have to talk about momentum, and keeping Mkhitaryan’s going, but let’s not go down that road right now. It’s enough to say that I don’t like how much we currently need him.