Alex Iwobi and his Arsenal teammates will look to turn their Europa League fortunes around when they host French club Stade Rennes in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie at the Emirates Stadium today (Thursday), Completesports.com reports
The Gunners fell to an agonising 3-1 defeat to Rennes in the first leg a week ago with Iwobi scoring The Gunner’s only goal of the game before coming off early in the second half for Matteo Guendouzi.
The North London side need to score two goals without conceding any if they must seal their passage into the Europa League quarter-finals.
Unai Emery’s men head into the game in boisterous mood following their 2-0 win against Manchester United last Sunday at the Emirates Stadium.
They will also be boosted by Alexandre Lacazette availability for the game after he missed the first leg due to suspension.
Lacazette picked a red card in the previous round against Belarusian club BATE Borisov and was suspended for two games, a decision that was rescinded by UEFA early this week.
Iwobi has made seven appearances for Arsenal in the Europa League and has scored once with two assists to his name.
At the Estadio de la Cerámica, Samuel Chukwueze Villarreal’s will seek to do the double over Russian club Zenit St Petersburg.
Villarreal secured a 3-1 away win in the first leg and look on course for a place in the next round.
Chukwueze, 19, who played the entire duration of the first leg, has made seven appearances for the Yellow Submarines in the Europa League with one goal and one assist to his name.
By Adeboye Amosu
