It may seem like a daft question about Arsenal resting any of our regular first team players for the Premier League match against Stoke City this weekend, what with Burnley having moved to within two points of the Gunners after their win at West Brom, but I reckon that Arsene Wenger will be considering it.
The reason for that is that winning the Europa League this season is the only realistic way Arsenal have to claim a place in the Champions League next season, and that is something that would take a whole heap of pressure off the shoulders of the Frenchman and probably make it easy for him to stay on as manager again for another year.
Even though the players have until Thursday to rest and recover for the first of our matches with CSKA Moscow, which is also at home and so requires no long haul travel, it is vital that the Gunners put the two legg3ed tie to bed as we do not want to be going to Russia needing a good result.
It does not matter too much whether we beat Stoke by one goal or six, so you would think that we could afford to go out without a completely full strength team. Would you risk it? Will Wenger?
Bob.