Source: TheGuardian
Arsenal v Rennes: Europa League last 16, second leg – live!
Europa League updates from the second leg (first leg: 1-3)Join Paul Doyle for live updates of Dynamo Kyiv v ChelseaLive scoreboard: Thursday’s latest scores and resultsAnd you can email Rob here with your thoughts 7.54pm GMT The player are in the tunnel, ready for another night’s work. Prediction: Arsenal 5-1 Rennes (AET). 7.49pm GMT The early games have finished, with Chelsea, Napoli and Valencia going through to the last eight. Valencia were going out to FC Krasnodar until Goncalo Guedes scored in the 93rd minute. Related: Dynamo Kyiv v Chelsea: Europa League last 16, second leg – live! 7.28pm GMT On today of all days #OnThisDay in 1998...Marc Overmars silenced Old Trafford pic.twitter.com/v2uDZljF0Q 7.27pm GMT Some pre-match reading Related: Aubameyang and Lacazette pals’ act drives Arsenal towards bigger things | Amy Lawrence Related: Rennes admit surprise at Uefa reprieve for Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette 7.10pm GMT In other Europa League news, Chelsea went to Kyiv with a 3-0 lead from the first leg. You will not believe the score! Related: Dynamo Kyiv v Chelsea: Europa League last 16, second leg – live! 6.57pm GMT Arsenal (3-4-1-2) Cech; Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Ramsey, Xhaka, Kolasinac; Ozil; Lacazette, Aubameyang.Substitutes: Leno, Mkhitaryan, Torreira, Iwobi, Denis Suarez, Guendouzi, Nketiah.Rennes (4-4-2) Koubek; Traore, Da Silva, Mexer, Bensebaini; Sarr, Andre, Grenier, Bourigeaud; Ben Arfa, Niang.Substitutes: Badiashile, Zeffane, Doumbia, Lea Silki, Del Castillo, Hunou, Gelin. 6.32pm GMT A main course of shallot and chicory tatin, young vegetables, new potatoes with chestnut dressing never hurt nobody. But despite the almost parodic gastronomic options at the Emirates Stadium, and the nu-footy reputation, it has become an intimidating place for away sides. Only Manchester City have picked up more league points at home than Arsenal in each of the last two seasons, and they were again impressive in beating Manchester United at the weekend.Arsenal’s home form – and the bonus availability of Alexandre Lacazette – means they are most people’s favourites to go through to the last eight of Europa League despite their 3-1 defeat in France a week ago. Even the Rennes manager Julian Stephan thinks so. “Arsenal remain favourites given their past and their experience,” he sniffed. “The only thing I think is that we will need to score there, at least once, if not twice.” Continue reading......read full article
