Rennes vs Arsenal: Europa League score, goals and updates
- Rennes defeated Real Betis to secure their place in the last 16
- Arsenal had to overturn a disappointing first-leg loss to Bate Borisov
- Arsenal have never lost an away game against French opposition
- Ismalia Sarr has been directly involved in five Europa League goals this season
RENNES vs ARSENAL
Rennes XI: Koubek, Zeffane, Da Silva, Mexer, Bensebaini, Andre, Grenier, Bourigeaud, Ben Arfa, Sarr, Hunou.
Arsenal XI: Cech, Mustafi, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal; Xhaka, Torreira; Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Iwobi; Aubameyang.
Who knew…
17:40: Tonight’s Europa League clash in Rennes will be extra special for Petr Cech.
The veteran Czech goalkeeper joined Rennes as a teenager in 2002, and spent two seasons with them before leaving for Chelsea.
“We were in for training so we actually finished the session and then watched the draw together in the treatment room,” Cech said. “Matteo and Auba also wanted to go to Rennes as well, and when the ball came out we were all jumping around because we were so excited to go there.
“They were my first choice in the draw, not because it’s not going to be a difficult tie, but because of the significance in my career. For me to go there after 16 years, especially in the year where I announced my retirement from football, is special.”
Rennes vs Arsenal: Europa League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
Twitter round-up
Hassan: Roma sacked Di Francesco and Ranieri possible taking Roma job. Monchi to Arsenal looks more likely!
Tom: Very strong line-up. Would rather AMN at RB instead of Mustafi and thought one of Mkhi/Iwobi and Kos/Sok should’ve been rested ahead of United on Sunday. Emery going for it.
Ben: Very strong team selection tonight! Emery isn’t messing around and is serious in this competition! On paper it should be an easy win but it will be a difficult game as it’s their biggest game of the season! Confident of getting a win!
Rennes vs Arsenal: Europa League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
Perfect 10?
17:34: Rennes will be the 10th different French team that Arsenal have faced in all European competition – the Gunners have beaten each of the previous nine they’ve met.
Wanted: Ismaila Sarr
17:30: Arsenal know all about Rennes’ dangerman Ismaila Sarr.
Why you ask? Well because they’ve wanted to sign the Senegal international for quite some time.
Sarr, 21, has turned heads in France this season by scoring nine goals and providing six assists for his Rennes team-mates.
And Arsenal’s reported keenness was verified by Sarr’s compatriot, Papa Waigo.
“[Sarr] was born in my city and started in my soccer school,” Waigo said in January. “He has talent and has shown it in France. Arsenal are following him and I’m proud of him.”
Rennes vs Arsenal: Europa League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
Hatem Ben Arfa
17:25: Rennes coach Julien Stephan has backed Hatem Ben Arfa to shine tonight.
Ben Arfa endured a tough time under Unai Emery when the pair worked together at PSG and did not feature in a single competitive game for the Ligue 1 side last season.
The 31-year-old left PSG at the end of his contract and moved to Rennes, where he has starred as part of a team which has gone further in the Europa than any in the club’s history.
“It is a thing of the past,” Stephan said of the history between Ben Arfa and Emery. “Hatem has a lot of experience, he’ll be able to handle it in a very smart way.
“We did not need to talk about it together and there are plenty of other topics to talk about before talking about that. It is Rennes against Arsenal in the Europa League, it is not Hatem against Emery.”
Rennes vs Arsenal: Europa League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
Twitter round-up
Olly: Just curious. Why did we loan Denis Suarez if he’s never starting? In my opinion, we should’ve started Denis ahead of Alex Iwobi tonight let’s be honest.
Chris: I don’t know much about Rennes but I know Ben Arfa, Grenier and Sarr are players we need to be wary of and frustrate. Anyone else I should be particularly concerned about?
Gooner: Totally forgot about our Europa League match!
You and me both Gooner, I was settling down to watch Eat Well For Less when I realised. Suppose the diet can wait another 28 years.
Rennes vs Arsenal: Europa League score, goals and updates (Image: TWITTER)
Three-match ban
17:15: Lucas Torreira will serve a three-match suspension after the club’s appeal to the FA over his red card against Tottenham was rejected.
Torreira had come on at half-time during Saturday’s north London derby at Wembley, and was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor during stoppage time after catching Danny Rose with his studs in a sliding challenge.
Following the decision by the FA, Torreira will be banned for Sunday’s clash against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium, while also missing the home game with Newcastle on April 1 and the trip to Everton on April 7.
Rennes vs Arsenal: Europa League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
Claudio…
17:10: Hold that thought – perhaps I won’t send off a CV.
The latest reports suggest that sacked Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri will replace Eusebio Di Francesco for the remainder of the season.
Premier League winner with Leicester, sacked by Fulham, hired by Roma. Pretty standard career path…
Breaking news – Eusebio Di Francesco sacked
17:08: Not sure if you guys are bothered but Roma have just sacked manager Eusebio Di Francesco.
The decision comes less than 24 hours after being knocked out of the Champions League by Porto in extra time. Seems a little bit harsh – it was a pretty dodgy VAR penalty decision.
I suppose I’ll fire a CV over and prepare for a meeting with Monchi and Co.
Team News
17:05: Arsenal make four changes for the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 clash against Rennes at Roazhon Park.
Gunners head coach Unai Emery recalls Mesut Ozil after dropping the German to the bench for Saturday’s north London derby draw with Tottenham in the Premier League.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replaces the suspended Alexandre Lacazette in attack, with Lucas Torreira and Petr Cech also coming in as Matteo Guendouzi and Bernd Leno make way.
Former Newcastle and Hull winger Hatem Ben Arfa starts for the Gunners’ French opponents, who are competing at this stage of a European competition for the first time in their history.
Rennes vs Arsenal: Europa League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
Twitter round-up
Sam: Only the second time that has Ozil has started an away game for Arsenal since October’s draw at Crystal Palace. Last away game he started was against Brighton on Boxing Day. He’s starting to win back some faith, I think.
Liam: Shkodran Mustafi still at right back… Really?!
Adam: What does Carl Jenkinson have to do to get a game?! Shkodran Mustafi needs to be dropped! Struggles at CB let alone RB. Jenko is a RB – play him! Was great last time out. Give him the chance he deserves.
That’s Adam there – founder and chief administrator of the Carl Jenkinson appreciation society.
Rennes vs Arsenal: Europa League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
Tonight’s action
16:55: Roughly 87,557 games have passed in this season’s Europa League and there’s two Premier League sides still in the mix in the round of 16.
Arsenal and Rennes will get underway at 17:55, and then Chelsea welcome Dynamo Kiev to Stamford Bridge at 20:00.
Other fixtures include: Dinamo Zagreb vs Benfica, Frankfurt vs Inter Milan, Sevilla vs Slavia Prague, Zenit vs Villarreal, Napoli vs Salzburg, Valencia vs Krasnodar.
Urm…
16:50: These Rennes fans aren’t messing around. This is evidently their World Cup final with thousands of supporters greeting the team bus as it arrived at Roazhon Park.
I saw roughly eight blokes and a pigeon greet the Arsenal coach when it arrived at the Emirates a few weeks ago.
The starting XI
16:48: The line-ups have arrived. Unai Emery makes four changes from the side who drew with Tottenham in the north London derby. Still a very string team from the manager who’s made a habit of winning this tournament.
Rennes XI: Koubek, Zeffane, Da Silva, Mexer, Bensebaini, Andre, Grenier, Bourigeaud, Ben Arfa, Sarr, Hunou.
Subs: Badiashile, Doumbia, Johansson, Lea Siliki, Lauriente, Del Castillo, Gelin.
Arsenal XI: Cech, Mustafi, Koscielny, Sokratis, Monreal, Xhaka, Torreira, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Iwobi, Aubameyang.
Subs: Leno, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Suarez, Nketiah.
Rennes vs Arsenal: Europa League score, goals and updates (Image: ARSENAL)
Afternoon
16:45: Hello everyone and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Rennes vs Arsenal from Roazhon Park.
Forget the bright lights, glamour and stunning comebacks witnessed in the Champions League this week.
We’re all about the Europa League… It’s where… the… football purists… thrive… right?
OK, nobody believes that but winning the competition will guarantee entry to UEFA’s top table next season.
And Unai Emery’s Arsenal are just seven games away from achieving that. Well worth getting excited about if you ask me!
Rennes vs Arsenal: Europa League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
RENNES vs ARSENAL
Arsenal manager Unai Emery has has added Eddie Nketiah to the 18-man squad which travelled to Tottenham on Sunday.
The 19-year-old replaces Alexandre Lacazette, who is serving the second of a three-match suspension after his red card against Bate Borisov.
Rennes have forward M’Baye Niang and defender Hamari Traore suspended for the visit of Arsenal.
Predicted line-ups…
Rennes: Koubek; Zeffane, Da Silva, Mexer, Bensebaini; Bourigeaud, Andre, Grenier, Sarr; Ben Arfa, Hunou
Arsenal: Cech; Mustafi, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal; Torreira, Xhaka; Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Iwobi, Aubameyang
