Match Day Thread Stade Rennais vs Arsenal - Matchday Thread

please log in to view this image

Venue: Roazhan Park
KO time: 17:55pm
Date: Thursday 7th March


As these two teams have never played each other before, I will do a breakdown of form, league position and key players going into this game.

Last 6 games for Rennes (all competitions):
WDLWDW
Last 6 games for Arsenal (all competitions):
WLWWWD

Top goalscorer for Rennes:
Ismaila Sarr - 9

Top goalscorer for Arsenal:
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang - 19

League Position for Rennes:
10th - 37 points

League Position for Arsenal:
5th - 57 points

please log in to view this image

​

 

Important to remember that these lot will have had additional rest over us because they were allowed to take a break from their league fixtures to focus on this match.

I don't know if they should have been allowed to do that, as we were not afforded that same courtesy, but it could play into our hands, as we will be more likely to be match-ready.

Aubameyang should be out to make up for his decisive penalty miss against Spurs, whilst I expect to see Torreira and Xhaka in the middle. I think Ozil should start this one too, as well as Mkhi and Iwobi. I'd go for a 4-2-3-1.

Cech, Lichtsteiner/Jenkinson, Sokratis, Koscielny, Kolasinac; Torreira, Xhaka; Iwobi, Ozil, Mkhitaryan; Aubameyang

Ben Arfa may well be out to prove a point, but we should really be dispatching a team 10th in the French league. I know they knocked out Betis in the last round, as they were apparent dark horses for some people, but we should have too much quality for them.

They are meant to be a very good counter attacking team and have a lot of pace in their front line. So we will need to be cautious when committing men forward.

I just hope for a better performance and result than against BATE away. Given that the pitch conditions will be to our liking, I'd expect no less.

 

They are a bit of an unknown quantity for us, but we should be beating Rennes over the two legs. I'd take a score draw in this game tbh as that would still give us an advantage for the home leg.

Also, isn't Torreira banned for this or is it only PL games ?

 

Nah, only PL games. He'll be available for the Europa.

 

Why did we borrow Suarez?

 

He'll probably get some game time tonight.

 

0-1 Iwobi

 

well a red card to sokratis and an equalizer from Rennes.

 

Terrible decision by the Ref to send off the Big Greek with that 2nd Yellow!

It was a clear foul on Sokartis first (arm across neck).

Can't VAR been called in to play on vital decisions like that?

 

have to say, that should not have been a second yellow for sokratis, the player ran into him, and if anything fouled him first, but you cant be that clumsy in the area I guess, it looked a suspect challenge in real time.

 

Rennes have been well up for this. They have played well and 1-1 isn't an unfair reflection of the game so far.. Can't have any complaints about Sokratis second yellow

But ffs, they have been kicking lumps out of Torreira and the ref has done **** all about it.

 

The amount of fouls by our players in front of our eighteen yard box has been ridiculous,its been their only form of attack before the sending off,also Auba needs to man up for me he needs to be stronger on the ball gets brushed off too easy for my liking.

 

Totally agree re Auba, was thinking the same. The last few weeks his ball control has been dreadful.

 

Invited all those problems, then they score, surprise surprise.

 

Xhaka needs to cop the f--k on.

 

That was from our throw in, an absolute s---fest of a second half from us,dont have a clue how to play with 10 men.

 

It wouldn't be so bad if we had been playing a good team this lot are an average french team.

 

for the first 35 odd minutes, Rennes looked extremely average; it looked like it would be a stroll in the park.

Then sokratis decided to be a fool, and here we are.

but its not just that - our game management was AWFUL, some of the worst Ive ever seen. We were DOWN TO 10 MEN, and we were certainly not playing like it.

Constantly giving the ball away, pushing high up the pitch and gifting them that 3rd goal.

 

Monreal looked like an old man in that second half,cant complain about the result we were s--t for the second 45 mins.

 

Monreal was getting run RAGGED the whole second half.

And what a surprise that the same player running him ragged ended up scoring the third goal.