Arsenal can take a breather from the trials and tribulations of the Premier League title race this week as they switch their attention to Europe and a meeting with Sporting C.P. on Thursday.
It feels like an age since Mikel Arteta’s side ended their victorious Europa League group-stage campaign with a 1-0 win against FC Zurich back in November.
Since then, the focus has been on the club’s unexpected title bid in the Premier League, one that currently sees the Gunners lead the way by five points over Manchester City following Saturday’s thrilling victory against Bournemouth.
So the return of European football brings new challenges for Arteta, who must now decide how best to balance his squad’s workload with three defining months of a potentially historic campaign remaining.
But is the Europa League worth the risk? Do the potential negatives outweigh the positives for Arsenal this season?