After some thrilling Champions League clashes this week, the lesser lights of the Europa League will see Arsenal take on mighty Östersunds FK in Sweden on Thursday night, writes RICHARD BROWN. But the Gunners can’t afford to sniff at a competition whose winning prize is likely their only route back onto Europe’s main stage.
Östersunds Fotbollsklubb have mainly played in Sweden’s third tier since their inception in 1996, but in 2013 they earned promotion to the second tier and in 2016, for the first time, achieved promotion to play in Swedish football’s first tier, the Allsvenskan. For reference of how young this club is: Arsene Wenger has been manager of Arsenal for longer than Östersunds FK have existed. This is also the first season the Swedish side will play any measure of European football. Yet, even considering the small stature and relatively low pedigree of Östersunds FK, Arsenal supporters will look at the circumstances surrounding Thursday night’s Europa League match against these distinct underdogs, and knowingly tell you that victory is far from certain.
The Arsenal faithful have watched their team slip up against lesser sides, and in better conditions than they’ll be faced with on Thursday night. They’ll be playing at the home of Östersunds FK in sub-zero conditions and on a 4G artificial pitch that is known to cause injuries to professionals who are used to the soft carpets of Premier League stadia. But Wenger seems untroubled:
‘Our technical level should help us to adapt quickly. The temperature at the moment I don’t find a big difference with London. We have cold wind as well, similar to what has happened here so I don’t think the temperature will be a big problem. Our target will be to adapt quickly to the pitch.’
The Gunners also travelled to Sweden without a number of their first-teamers, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is cup-tied for this competition due to a ridiculous technicality, Laurent Koscielny who is battling chronic Achilles problems, Jack Wilshere who is nurturing an illness, and Aaron Ramsey who is still out with a groin strain. A bit more concerning for Arsenal is that they’ll be without their second striker too. Alexandre Lacazette was meant to take up the Europa League baton, free of the competition of new boy Aubameyang, and play himself back into form. But the Frenchman picked up a knee injury in the North London derby last weekend and underwent surgery during the week, which will see him sidelined for up to six weeks.
That leaves Danny Welbeck to play up front, and youngster Eddie Nketiah as the only back-up. Welbeck has found it tough going of late, and it couldn’t have been easy to see his first-team prospects drift – first with the record signing of Lacazette last year and then yet another record transfer of Aubameyang this year. He has managed to score five goals this season, but that’s caveated by the fact that they’ve come over 25 appearances. Welbeck simply hasn’t taken the chances handed to him over the past couple of seasons, but Wenger will hope he grabs this unlikely Europa opportunity by the horns, and Arsenal supporters will hope he’s packed his shooting boots. Wenger spoke on Wednesday of his third-choice striker’s recent fitness struggles and dealing with competition for first-team places:
‘He had to wait a little bit to get back in the team but that gave him time to work on his fitness and from what I have seen today, he is sharper than for a long time. He looks very sharp.’
Arsenal will also be without a captain on Thursday night, and Wenger mentioned that he still has to decide who to give the armband. Koscielny stayed in London, while club captain Per Mertesacker seemingly wasn’t on the plane either. And with Wilshere also absent, Nacho Monreal or perhaps Mesut Ozil will have to lead the team onto the pitch.
Östersunds FK will have followed Arsenal’s recent struggles in the Premier League, their Europa League group stage defeat to Cologne and their humiliating hiding against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup with keen interest. With firm underdog status, they’ll play without fear and will be looking to exploit the Gunners’ weaknesses and set up swift counter-attacks to puncture the London club’s exceptionally leaky defence.
However, even without their first-choice attack, two-star central midfielders and best defender and captain, Arsenal will be looking for a relatively straightforward victory. Anything else will be considered a disaster.
The Europa League is often looked at down the noses of ‘elite’ clubs – a category to which Arsenal used to belong but are steadily losing their grip on. It is a secondary competition, the main lustre of which is the main prize of returning to the prestige and money of the Champions League. But with Arsenal’s dreadful away form in the Premier League this season, and with only 11 game weeks remaining and the Gunners languishing eight points behind the top four, there is little chance of getting back into Europe’s premier competition by way of their domestic league.
Wenger will, therefore, be looking to do what Manchester United achieved last year, when they finished sixth in the league, but went on to win the Europa League. Granted, United’s path to Europa League glory could hardly have been easier, and Arsenal will face much stauncher opposition (Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Celtic and Zenit St Petersburg are all in the competition this season), but Wenger should be looking to place all of his eggs in a Europa-shaped basket.
One season out of the Champions League is acceptable, but two or three seasons out of Europe’s top cup competition could see Arsenal lose attraction for prospective signings, not to mention losing out on the substantial financial rewards that Champions League football brings. Fortunately, the club has managed to sign world-class striker Aubameyang and tied down star man Mesut Ozil to a long-term contract, but an extended hiatus from the Champions League could see their heads, and others’, turned towards greener pastures.
So, a strong start in the knockout stages is required, and Wenger will be hoping his charges are up for a fight in the bitter cold of Östersund.
