The Europa League is Arsenal's shot at redemption this season

                                           

The Europa League is Arsenal's shot at redemption this season

By Adam Le Roux

Arsenal return to Thursday night action this week, as they resume their Europa League campaign with a last 32 clash against Benfica in Rome.

The 37-time Portuguese champions will be a stern test for Mikel Arteta’s side, who were unlucky to be drawn against one of the toughest opponents in the first knockout stage.

Regulars in the Champions League group stages, Jorge Jesus’ team will be fired up for the challenge facing them at the Stadio Olimpico, despite having won just one of their last six matches in the Primeira Liga.

It will be an unprecedented situation for both sides this week, with the clash taking place in the Italian capital to due to Covid-19 protocols, before the return leg takes place in Athens a week later, with home advantage effectively eliminated from both matches.

You have to go all the way back to 1991 for the last time that these two faced off in a competitive match, with the Portuguese side coming out victors in a two-legged affair in the European Cup.

A 1-1 draw in Lisbon - with Kevin Campbell getting the Gunners’ goal - was followed up by the same result at Highbury, with Colin Pates finding the net in the second leg, before two strikes in extra-time saw the visitors go through at Arsenal’s expense.

As ever, European football can always bring about some memorable matches across the continent, but for Arteta it will be about getting the job done in Rome to set up a comfortable return tie in a weeks’ time. So, what can we expect on Thursday?

Continental clash must take priority

Let’s not beat around the bush here, the majority of Arsenal fans would much rather see an all-action display in Italy on Thursday night than a valiant showing which will probably end in defeat against Manchester City this weekend.

There comes a time in a season when you have to take stock and evaluate where the prizes lie in a campaign, and for Arsenal that is most definitely in European competition this year.

The chance to go through to the latter stages of the Europa League will no doubt boost the confidence of the whole squad heading into the final stages of the season, which means Arteta needs to field as strong a team as possible for this week’s clash.

The European stage has often been a place where the Spaniard has given bit-part players a run out, especially in the group stages earlier in the season, but this is getting to the serious part, and it’s a time for big-game players.

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back on red-hot form after his hat-trick against Leeds United at the weekend, the Gabonese striker has to be a shoe-in to get the nod against the 2014 Europa League runners up.

Alexandre Lacazette and Emile Smith Rowe will likely add to the firepower for the Gunners, as they look to avoid going out at the last 32 stage for the second consecutive season, having been knocked out by Olympiakos at the same point last year.

So often in the early stages of Europe Arteta would opt for a youthful team and reserve players, but facing Benfica is different to travelling to Dundalk, and for that reason the likes of Reiss Nelson shouldn’t be playing in this one.

The academy graduate can have a run out in the procession against City, where Arsenal will look to put in a decent performance against Pep Guardiola’s side only to be defeated by [two, three, four - delete where applicable] goals to nil, as is so often the case.

Pick Pepe to bully Benfica

The Europa League is Nicolas Pepe’s stage, and the Ivorian will be raring to get back into action on Thursday, having been glued to the bench for the entirety of Sunday’s Leeds win.

The former Lille man has been in inspired form in continental competition throughout this season, with three goals in his six appearances in the competition so far, including a rocket against Dundalk at the Emirates in October.

And with two goals in his last four Premier League appearances, Pepe has certainly looked back to his best recently, after a topsy-turvy start to the campaign which saw his form continuously fluctuate.

The tricky little menace will be a thorn in Benfica’s side from the right side of the Arsenal frontline if he is selected, and he deserves his opportunity to thrive in a revitalised attacking unit.

With Aubameyang and Lacazette seemingly back in full flow, the 25-year-old will start to flourish from his wide berth once again, with Stadio Olimpico the perfect place to showcase his talents.

Too soon for Thomas and Tierney

As much as progression in the Europa League is now paramount for rescuing Arsenal’s beleaguered season, there is no need to rush players back from injury to play in the first leg in Rome.

Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney have faced spells on the sidelines in recent weeks, with both coming close to returning to action, and the Scot pictured returning to training this week.

But managing their return is key to keeping them fit for the rest of the season, with both players already having sat out a number of key matches this campaign due to their respective setbacks, and Arteta isn’t sure the pair will have any part to play this week.

"It seems unlikely at the moment. But probably if there is one player who has got a bigger chance, it’s Kieran, because probably in the next few days he can start to do some parts with the team,” the Spaniard said.

"But I don’t know how it is going to evolve when he gets a little bit closer to training with the group.”

Cedric Soares has proved himself an able deputy in the left-back role while Tierney has been unavailable, while Dani Ceballos has been revelling in his role in the centre of midfield, and looks to be building confidence as he continues to establish himself in the side.

With belief growing among the Gunners’ squad once again, there will be plenty of optimism heading into the crucial clash against Benfica, and Arsenal fans will be expecting a solid performance on the road in Europe.

Photo Credit: Getty Images