Arsenal’s campaign this turn has been below average as they find themselves way behind the Champions League places, sitting in 6th. However, Europa League could salvage some pride for their fans having reached the quarter finals stage where they face CSKA Moscow.
Arsenal will have to do everything to grind results in the Europa League if they are to find themselves among Europe’s elite next season.
We now look at 3 players who will be crucial to Arsenal in helping them finish the season on a positive note.
#3 Mesut Özil
Despite his slow start to the season, the German has found his way back. His participation in Arsenal’s games will be extremely crucial given his ability to break defences and create opportunities for the rest of the attackers.
The pass-master’s recent form has given the Arsenal fans a glimmer of hope going into the final few stages of the Europa League as he bagged 2 crucial assists in Arsenal’s astounding 2-0 away win against AC Milan.
Arsene Wenger will be hoping that German World Cup winner can weave his magic in the upcoming games for Arsenal.
#2 Henrikh Mkhitaryan
How dearly Arsenal would have hoped for the pairing of Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang to have an influence on their games, but the ineligibility of Aubameyang in the Europa League means Mkhitaryan will have to immediately improve his chemistry with the rest of the forwards.
Often hounded for his inconsistency at Manchester United, the Armenian has had a similar start at Arsenal as well. His goal against AC Milan in their 2-0 win gave the Gunners much needed cushion going into the second tie which they won 3-1, so his form is on the up.
That form then translated to the Premier League in their game against Watford where he found the back of the net and mustered an assist as well. Wenger will be hoping his star-man returns from the International break fit and healthy to aid Arsenal’s Europa League title challenge.
Alexandre Lacazette
The Arsenal fans will be sweating on the fitness of Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette following his knee injury back in early February. However, the forward has shown positive signs in his recovery as Wenger claimed that he would return sooner than expected. Initially stated to miss up to 6 weeks, his return has been cut short to 3 weeks and will be hoping he is fully fit ahead of Arsenal’s Europa League tie against CSKA Moscow.
With Aubameyang out of picture, Welbeck and Lacazette are the only two options up top. Despite Welbeck’s brace against AC Milan in the 3-1 victory at home, Lacazette could be the front-runner for the centre-forward position once he reached full fitness.