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Arsenal must stop underestimating the away leg in the Europa League

By Kian Long

Arsenal's Spanish coach Unai Emery (R) argues with the referee during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg football match between Stade Rennais FC and Arsenal FC at the Roazhon Park stadium in Rennes, northwestern France on March 7, 2019. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP) (Photo credit should read LOIC VENANCE/AFP/Getty Images)
Arsenal's Spanish coach Unai Emery (R) argues with the referee during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg football match between Stade Rennais FC and Arsenal FC at the Roazhon Park stadium in Rennes, northwestern France on March 7, 2019. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP) (Photo credit should read LOIC VENANCE/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal has suffered yet another fall in their quest for silverware this season. They lost 3-1 against Rennes last night…

Unai Emery is known as the Europa League specialist. He won the competition three times with Sevilla. However, since he has been appointed at Arsenal, he hasn’t looked all the more convincing in European competition.

Last night, Arsenal took on Rennes. In all honesty, despite taking an early lead, the Gunners never looked to have a firm grip on the game and in the end, the result shown this. They lost their heads and Sokratis Papastathopoulos was sent off within the first half, which ended up in a goal bombardment.

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Perhaps this speaks volumes of Arsenal’s reliance on Sokratis. After all, he is their best defender nowadays. But the first-half injury to Shkodran Mustafi didn’t exactly help either. The Gunners will hope that they suffer no more defensive misfortunes before their home leg since they must avoid conceding an away goal. Should they win the home leg by two goals, then they will go through providing Rennes don’t score.

Unai Emery is a stubborn character. This can sometimes be a good thing but last night it proved to be a bad thing. He refused to give Rennes any respect, which is weird considering he played them many times while managing PSG. Arsenal is a different outfit to PSG, Emery must realise this.

I fully believe that the Gunners have what it takes to overturn this result in the second leg. It will be a tricky task, but Rennes are unpredictable. If Emery prepares his men right, then they can achieve anything.

If Arsenal does make it through, then they must avoid underestimating whoever they face in the next stage of the competition. This has been their fatal flaw this season, so they must avoid it in the future.

Next. Three reasons why Arsenal will win the Europa League. dark

Do you think Arsenal has what it takes to overturn Rennes in the home fixture?

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