Arsenal Vs Rennes: 5 things we learned

Arsenal Vs Rennes: 5 things we learned – Second-half shocker

RENNES, FRANCE - MARCH 07: Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal looks towards his manager Unai Emery as he leaves the pitch after receiving a red card during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 First Leg match between Stade Rennais and Arsenal at Roazhon Park on March 07, 2019 in Rennes, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

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RENNES, FRANCE – MARCH 07: Alex Iwobi of Arsenal celebrates with team-mate Granit Xhaka after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 First Leg match between Stade Rennais and Arsenal at Roazhon Park on March 07, 2019 in Rennes, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

4. Iwobi vibrant again

His ability to get forward with real pace and purpose was curtailed for the eight minutes he played in the second half thanks to Arsenal being down a man, but Alex Iwobi was once again the Gunners’ primary source of creativity and threat. Within the first ten minutes of the match, he had already scored and almost assisted another.

The opening goal may not have been meant, but Iwobi still deserves credit for whipping a dangerous cross towards the far post, searching for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but instead finding the bottom corner. Further, it was the clever positions that he picked up in the half-space that caused Rennes problems.

Nacho Monreal outside of him and Mesut Ozil more centrally, Iwobi could pick up spaces that made him very difficult to mark. His goal and near-assist came from this position, as did several dangerous Arsenal attacks. Iwobi was vibrant once more.