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Arsenal's 1-1 draw against Tottenham leaves them still very much in contention to finish inside the top 4. Their mini-revival, where they have won three of their last four Premier League games and drew the other against Tottenham Hotspur, has certainly improved their season but given their tendency to switch off at random moments, they could easily drop a few points and not be in contention anymore.
Also, given that Manchester United are very much in form right now, Arsenal's next PL fixture, which is against United, could play a huge role in deciding their top four hopes. If they lose that game and a few more till the end of the season, they will have to rely on winning the Europa League to get into the Champions League next season.
Unai Emery and his men take on Ligue 1 club, Rennes, next at the Roazhon Park. While Rennes' form domestically has not been that great, they do some have some really amazing players in their team and if Arsenal players are not at their best, this tie could be out of their hands before they realize it.
Here are three Rennes players Arsenal need to be wary of.
#3 Clement Grenier
During his early years at Lyon, Clement Grenier was considered the brightest prospect in French football and the Gunners were also linked to him at one point. However, things never materialized and the Frenchman's career never took off either. After his loan spell at Roma, he moved to Guingamp and then in the summer of 2018 to Rennes.
The midfielder is now trying to get his career back and has done decently up until now. In 36 appearances he has scored four goals and assisted four more. He also averages nearly two shots per game and has a pass success rate of 81% so far this season.
With his superb free-kick taking abilities, amazing pinpoint accuracy from set pieces and amazing finishing, Grenier will definitely be one of the most dangerous players on the pitch. His career might have not gone his way so far, but he has an amazing opportunity to prove himself against a great club like Arsenal and you can bet he will be eager to make an impression.
#2 Ismaila Sarr
Ismaila Sarr is another player who could go on to achieve greatness and could be the next big money transfer from Rennes after Ousmane Dembele. The winger is just 21 years old and already has a number of top clubs including Arsenal after him. He is Rennes' top scorer so far this season with nine goals and also has six assists to his name.
In the Europa League, Sarr has three goals and two assists and a club like Arsenal is exactly what he could be waiting for to showcase his talent.
Sarr averages close to two shots and two dribbles per game and is one of the most fouled players in the Ligue 1. With his amazing vision and through ball ability, his pace, and dribbling ability he will certainly be a huge threat to the shaky Arsenal defense.
The winger can operate on either side of the wings or as a striker and will definitely be one player Arsenal need to have their eye on at all times. They cannot afford to give him any space at all and Sarr will be eager to show the entire footballing world why so many clubs are after him.
#1 Hatem Ben Arfa
This player needs no introduction at all. Everyone knows how talented Ben Arfa is and his time at Newcastle, especially that goal against Bolton and Blackburn Rovers proves that. The Frenchman is exceptionally talented and is considered one of the best footballers who just never could.
The pacy attacker seems to be getting his career back on track at Rennes at the moment and has so far registered seven goals and three assists with the Ligue 1 club. He will be determined to show the world that he has still got it and playing against Arsenal will be extra incentive particularly because of Unai Emery.
For those who don't know it, Ben Arfa and Emery had a tiff during their time at PSG. It got so bad that Emery completely froze the attacker out of the PSG squad. Ben Arfa reacted by telling the manager that he would never get past the quarter-finals of the Champions League as a manager, even if he had the best team in the world after that famous loss to Barcelona in the 2016/17 season. Ben Arfa would also do impressions of Emery attempting to speak French when around other players in the dressing room.
So clearly the two do not have a great relationship and knowing the kind of player Ben Arfa is, he will definitely be eager to get one over his former manager. With Arsenal's defense still facing their regular problems, Ben Arfa will not hesitate to take them on.
Unai Emery will certainly have his hands full when Arsenal take on Rennes and the three players mentioned in this list will certainly be ones to watch out for in this Europa League Round of 16 tie.
Honorable Mention: M'Baye Niang and Benjamin Bourigeaud - Both these players have scored four goals each in Ligue 1 this season.
