The THREE Players Arsenal Should Be Scared Of Against Rennes In Europa League

Rennes are a dark horse in this season’s competition and have already shown that they are capable of causing an upset.

They issued a real statement on Thursday night in Seville that they should not be underestimated by any opponent.

Les Rouges et Noirs dispatched Real Betis 3-1 (6-4 on aggregate), a side who topped the group of death and have beaten Barcelona at the Camp Nou in La Liga this season.

The Ligue 1 side sneaked through Group K in second place, one point ahead of Astana but their gung-ho style of football is much better suited to knockout football meaning Arsenal will have to be fully focused.

Ismaila Sarr
The winger is a player that Unai Emery will have to be wary of when the side’s meet at the start of March.

His electric pace and long-range shooting ability will pose a real threat to Arsenal, particularly when he comes inside from the left flank.

The 20-year-old’s performances have reportedly captured the interest of the Gunners, who have been linked with a move for the star.

He first put himself in the shop window at last summer’s World Cup when he showcased his lightening acceleration and dribbling skills against Japan.

Hatem Ben Arfa
It’s impossible to ignore Ben Arfa when it comes to this Rennes side.

He will also be no stranger to Arsenal after his time in the Premier League with Newcastle and Hull City.

The Frenchman will be keen to seek revenge on Unai Emery, who froze him out of the Paris Saint-Germain squad during his time in the French capital.

Ben Arfa has the individual quality to hurt the Gunners, particularly if given time in pockets of space.

They’ll be keen to close him down quickly seeing as he is Rennes’ main source of creativity.

M’Baye Niang
Niang is a real handful who can play with both his back to goal and in behind.

He had a brief stint with Watford on loan and didn’t make a huge impact but his movement means Arsenal can’t afford a moment’s sleep at the back.

They were also linked with a move for Niang last summer but those reports were unlikely to ever come to fruition.

The 24-year-old is not the most consistent player however every now and again he has one of those days where he can really hurt you.

There is a lot of pace in the Rennes frontline, and both of Niang and Sarr like to work in the channels.

For that reason they could look to isolate the Arsenal full-backs, particularly if Stephan Lichtsteiner is playing.

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