A productive week in Europe for Premier League teams concludes with a regulation 3-0 win for Arsenal against Oestersunds FK.
The Gunners closed in on a Europa League Round of 16 spot thanks to strikes from Nacho Monreal and Mesut Ozil and an own goal in Sweden.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, with two assists, and Alex Iwobi set up the goals, before David Ospina saved an injury-time penalty as Arsene Wenger’s side kept a rare clean sheet.
The Colombian keeper was one of five changes to the team that lost in the north London derby as Arsene Wenger ditched the policy that saw him field only fringe players over the group stages. Iwobi, Calum Chambers, Danny Welbeck and Ainsley Maitland-Niles also came in. Meanwhile, Laurent Koscielny and Jack Wilshere were left at home – the former nursing his ongoing Achilles problem, while Wilshere was a precautionary rest following his recent illness.
With Alexandre Lacazette out following knee surgery and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ineligible to play in the competition, Welbeck was Arsenal’s only available senior striker.
But he failed to impress on a night when Ozil and Mkhitaryan caught the eye.
The Armenian has started just three matches in all competitions since his move from Man United, but has now provided five assists. Ozil is another finding his form – his goal last night follows two assists from the previous four Gameweeks.
Arsenal’s schedule is likely to promote investment in the midfield pair, although the German’s 9.3 price tag in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) will require him to produce more consistent returns before managers commit – particularly if Aaron Ramsey (7.0) recovers from the groin problem that forced him to miss the north London derby sooner than expected.
The Gunners now prepare for a run-in in which a visit from Man City in Gameweek 28 and a trip to Old Trafford in late April are the only two tough tests across the final 11 matches of the season.
They will also face seven of the bottom 10 teams in the league, with four of those matches at the Emirates.
Monreal’s goal last night maintained a remarkable run during which he has been directly involved in five goals in his last six matches in all competitions (three goals, two assists) – as many as in his previous 64 combined.
But the Gunners’ backline doesn’t exactly inspire thoughts of investment – they haven’t kept a clean sheet since Gameweek 18.
Squad rotation is also a factor to consider.
Unless their rivals slip up badly, Arsenal seem unlikely to finish in the top four, meaning that winning the Europa League has suddenly become their most likely route into next season’s Champions League.
The relative strength of the squad sent to Sweden was an early indication that this is now being considered.
The comfortable victory last night should defer the need for domestic rotation for now, despite Wenger’s relatively guarded post-match comments on the subject.
“I don’t know, I don’t think I will rest. We’ll try to win the game again. Maybe we’ll rotate the players who did not play tonight and rest one or two who played tonight.”
With a Carabao Cup final against Man City to play just three days after next Thursday’s second leg, the likes of Mkhitaryan and Ozil are surely unlikely to be risked for the home tie with Oestersunds.
A Gameweek 28 fixture, again involving City, will follow on the Thursday after the cup final – unless Pep Guardiola’s side are taken to a replay in this weekend’s FA Cup fifth round tie against Wigan, that is.
If domestic rotation is to kick in, it will be from then on.
Arsenal travel to Brighton in Gameweek 29 – just three days after the Man City fixture – with the Europa League Round of 16 first legs following on the Thursday after that.
Gameweek 30’s home match with Watford and the second leg in Europe will complete a schedule involving three matches in just seven days for the Gunners.
A much-needed break could then happen in Gameweek 31.
Arsenal are due to travel to Leicester City that weekend, but that requires the Foxes to lose tonight’s FA Cup tie at home to Sheffield United.
Regardless of the outcome of that match, Wenger’s side are going to be very busy from next Thursday until the middle of March, with seven matches to play across three weeks.
If the Arsenal manager also starts tailoring his league teams to maximise the chances of European success, the only sure-fire league starter during that period – injuries notwithstanding – might well be Aubameyang.
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