If you asked Manchester United fans at the start of the 2016/17 season where the UEFA Europa League ranked on their list of goals come the end of the season, many would see Europe’s secondary club tournament as nothing more than a distraction to the pressing domestic matters of a Premier League title.
However, if you asked those same fans on 24th May minutes after United’s 2-0 success against Ajax in the final
Entering the knockout stages of the Europa League however, it is vital that Wenger takes the Europa League seriously at this stage, by playing as many of his established first team players as possible.
In many ways, Arsenal’s current season draws many parallels with Manchester United’s 2016/17 season, based on more than just Europa League football this season.
2016/17 Premier League after Matchweek 27:
Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points |
4th | Liverpool | 27 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 52 |
5th | Arsenal | 26 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 50 |
6th | Manchester United | 26 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 49 |
(Manchester United went on to finish 6th, seven points off eventual 4th placed side Liverpool.)
2017/18 Premier League after Matchweek 27:
Position |
Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points |
4th | Chelsea | 27 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 53 |
5th | Tottenham | 27 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 52 |
6th | Arsenal | 27 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 44 |
Arsenal are quite rightly considered one of the favourites left in the competition alongside the likes of Napoli, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid. Not to mention tricky obstacles in the shape of Olympique Lyonnais, AC Milan and RB Leipzig makes the Europa League a very open competition, but one for the taking.
Speaking ahead of their first challenge, a last 32 first-leg tie to baltic Sweden to face Graham Potter’s
Reported via The Metro, he said: “I will play the normal team because it’s one of the opportunities we have, especially because we don’t play in the FA Cup this season. There is no reason why I should rest players.”
Calls for Wenger to play a full strength Arsenal side have not come just from the fans, as even the likes of club legend Thierry Henry believes the Europa League represents the best opportunity to achieve Champions League football for next season.
To say Arsenal’s season rests on Europa League success is somewhat wide of the mark, as a nine point gap can be diminished in a matter of weeks. That being said, Manchester United proved last season that a disappointing league finish can be forgotten with a Europa League trophy, making Europe’s secondary prize first priority for Arsenal.
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