According to a recent report by Football.London, Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is set to return to Unai Emery’s first-team against Rennes in midweek after missing the 2-0 league win over his former club Manchester United last weekend. The Armenian international didn’t feature on Sunday due to a back problem but could now be available to play in the second leg versus Rennes on Thursday night.
The Gunners will have a mammoth task of overturning a 3-1 deficit from the first leg in the upcoming UEFA Europa League Round of 16 clash at the Emirates Stadium. Hence, the return of their star midfielder could be the boost they need to turn their fortunes around for the better in Europe this season.
Mkhitaryan has enjoyed a rich vein of form for the Gunners before his recent back injury, so if he can hit the heights of his previous performances, then we can expect him to make a significant impact in the attacking end of the pitch later this week.
The 30-year-old has featured in 27 matches for the North London outfit this term, scoring six goals while grabbing six assists in all competitions. He is also vastly experienced at the international level having represented his country in 80 matches while scoring 26 goals for them in the process.
Mkhitaryan can link up well in midfield and has an eye for a killer pass in the final third. The Armenian talent can also be a prolific goalscorer when he is playing with confidence on the pitch. His recent performances prove that he can perform well in big games so Emery would hope that his prized asset can shine versus Rennes on Thursday night.
There is no doubt that his timely return will help Arsenal in the Premier League’s Top 4 race as well. The North London giants are hot on the heels of their North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, who are occupying the 3rd spot while Manchester United and Chelsea are also vying for an elusive UEFA Champions League spot next season.
Arsenal needs to pick up some positive results and go on a long unbeaten run if they are to ensure a top 4 finish at the end of this campaign. It won’t be easy by any means but having Mkhitaryan available for these final few months could be crucial in determining whether they play in Europe’s biggest football cup competition in the upcoming campaign.
