Arsenal FC received a major lineup boost late Tuesday when they learned striker Alexandre Lacazette will be available for their crucial Europa League clash at home versus Rennes on Thursday night.
The Frenchman was due to miss the second leg of the last-16 tie due to a suspension, for his having been sent off against BATE Borisov in the previous round on Valentine’s Day. Arsenal have successfully appealed to UEFA, and gotten the suspension reduced from three games to two.
And given how Lacazette already sat out the second leg of the round of 32 tie against BATE and the first leg against Rennes, he is now available for selection in this one by manager Unai Emery. Which is good because the Gunners are down 3-1 on aggregate from the first leg of this tie, and will need all the help they can get in order to overturn that result and advance.
Emery will have some depth issues in defense here as Sokratis is suspended after being sent off in France last week and Laurent Koscielny suffered a leg injury in the win over Manchester United on Sunday. It has been reported that it’s a cut on his leg, and he might still be able to play in this one.
The Gunners will also still be without their trio of long term injury absentees: Hector Bellerin, Danny Welbeck and Rob Holding.
In terms of the visitors, Rennes get Hamari Traore back from suspension and James Lea Siliki is expected to return, after having recovered from injury.
Arsenal FC at Rennes UEL Round of 16 Leg 2/2 (1-3 aggregate) FYIs
Kickoff: Thursday, March 14, 8pm, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal FC Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Odds via Odds Checker: Arsenal 4/13, Draw 26/5, Rennes 10/1
Odds via Betway to win Europa League tournament: Chelsea 11/4, Napoli 7/2, Arsenal 8/1, Valencia 10/1, Inter 11/1, Sevilla 11/1
Arsenal FC Recent form in Europa League: DWWLWL
Recent form (all competitions): WWWDLW
Rennes Recent form in Europa League: LWWDWW
Recent form (all competitions): LWDWWW
Prediction: Arsenal 3, Rennes 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.