Arsenal will put their top-four challenge on hold temporarily to focus on another potential route into the Champions League on Thursday when they face Rennes in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.
The Gunners make the trip to Brittany off the back of a 1-1 draw in the North London derby, which saw them surrender fourth spot in the Premier League table with only nine games of the season remaining.
The team that replaced them in fourth – Manchester United – await them in a huge crunch match at the Emirates Stadium this weekend, and manager Unai Emery must decide whether to rotate for Thursday’s match with Sunday in mind.
Emery’s team selection for the North London derby was a surprise as the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Lucas Torreira and Mesut Ozil were left out of the starting lineup, but that trio could all return for this match.
Alexandre Lacazette’s suspension means that Aubameyang is almost certain to lead the line, while Torreira’s red card at Wembley – and subsequent domestic ban – means that there is no need to think about resting him in the Europa League.
Other players, such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Aaron Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny, may be given the night off with one eye on Manchester United, though.
On-loan midfielder Denis Suarez will be hopeful of finally making his first start for Arsenal, having come off the bench five times since his January move from Barcelona.
It will be a particularly memorable occasion for Petr Cech too, with the veteran keeper expected to be handed the gloves for his return to a former club 15 years after leaving them for Chelsea.
