Arsenal have a very simple reality for them in the UEFA Champions League as they take a 7-1 lead into the Emirates as PSV Eindhoven look to achieve the impossible. Mikel Arteta appears to even be thinking ahead to the quarter-finals as he fielded questions on the prospects of a Madrid-based opponent.
There needs to be a balance from the coach in terms of giving minutes to players who need them while not allowing another defeat or draw to creep into their record. We’re unsure how PSV might arrive, what their own motivation for the match might be.
With Chelsea on the weekend and the Blues playing on Thursday night with only a slight lead after the first leg, Arsenal could benefit two-fold from some rotation. The mood might be low but the Champions League is what remains to win and therefore predicting the line-up is incredibly challenging this time around.