Arsenal in a spot of bother as they begin Europa League knockouts

For English teams the Europa League has been viewed as nothing more than an inconvenience with attempting to win the tournament carrying the risk of disrupting a domestic season. Not to mention the long travels to play less renowned opposition in smaller stadiums against players you’ve never heard of doesn’t exactly give teams the same level prestige compared to the Champion’s League.

That isn’t the case anymore now as the Europa League can now serve as an opportunity for a fifth English team to enter the Champion’s League as the level of competitiveness in England has gotten that much tougher making it an attractive alternative opposed to making the top four. Manchester United are proof of this as they found their way back amongst Europe’s elite after finishing sixth by winning the tournament last season. Arsenal now find themselves in the same position as they now have to put everything into winning the Europa League as a spot in the top four looks more and more likely out of their grasp.

Arsenal travel to Sweden tonight to take on Östersund in a clash, on paper, Arsenal should win and rather easily at that, but Arsenal head into the game under less than ideal conditions. The Gunners will have to make do without their best guns with Alexandre Lacazette being ruled out due to injury for the next six weeks and January acquisition Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can’t feature on account of being cup tied having already played in Uefa competition for Borussia Dortmund.

Having already sold Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United, and their alternative attacking options in Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud also departing, Arsenal have no other choice but to turn to Danny Welbeck as the Englishman is their only viable attacking option. This isn’t the most convenient of choices as Welbeck has only scored five goals over the past two seasons and is yet to get off the mark in the Europa League.