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.
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: GETTY)
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
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