Europa League

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Attendance: 59,453

Europa League | Round of 16

Mar 14, 2019 at 8pm UK

Arsenal
3-0
Rennes

Aubameyang (5', 72'), Maitland-Niles (15')

FT(HT: 2-0)

How Arsenal could line up against Rennes

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 12 March 2019

Sports Mole looks at how Arsenal could line up for the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie with Rennes as they attempt to overturn a 3-1 deficit.

Arsenal find themselves with a mountain to climb this Thursday night when they host Rennes for the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.

The Gunners slumped to a 3-1 defeat in last week's first leg in France, leaving a quarter-final place hanging in the balance as they attempt to salvage one of the remaining routes into next season's Champions League.

Arsenal did bounce back in style with a 2-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday, though - a result which leaves the top-four race in their own hands.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Unai Emery could set his side up to overturn the deficit at the Emirates Stadium.

Out: Sokratis Papastathopoulos (suspended), Hector Bellerin (knee), Rob Holding (knee), Danny Welbeck (ankle)
Doubtful: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (back)

Arsenal will be without Sokratis following his first-half red card last week in France, but striker Alexandre Lacazette has seen his three-match European ban reduced to two and he is therefore available to play.

Shkodran Mustafi could replace Sokratis in what is likely to be a back three once again, with Emery having little choice but to name an attacking lineup.

Mesut Ozil seems to have worked his way back into Emery's plans for the big matches after starting against Manchester United, and the German playmaker could retain his place for this one.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan faces a battle to recover from a back injury in time, although Emery could lean towards keeping largely the same team that pulled off such a big result against United.