Europa League successes and failures: Will Arsenal trust the youth? Take off for Celtic? | Football news

Is it time to trust the youngsters at Arsenal?

It’s a very strange situation at Arsenal. In the Europa League, they topped Group B with flying colors, winning every match and scoring 20 goals in the process. In the Premier League, they languish in 15th place and have only scored ten goals in 11 games.

The Europa League has traditionally seen young players get a chance to shine and in Thursday’s dead rubber against Dundalk, Mikel Arteta made the most of that. He made 11 changes to his starting team with more eager youngsters waiting on the bench.

There were many who also impressed. Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock added to his accounts for the season, and the former is now Arsenal’s top scorer in all competitions this season with five goals. Emile Smith-Rowe, making his first start with Arteta, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles connected wonderfully on the left and clearly have a connection from their academy days.

The highly publicized Folarin Balogun also came in as a substitute and once again attracted attention. He scored his first Arsenal goal in the senior category two weeks ago against Molde and added a second with a good shot at Aviva Stadium. He also added an assist for Willock’s strike, showing excellent retention game.

The question that needs to be asked now is, should Arteta start using these talented young players more in the Premier League? Something is clearly not working with current first-team options, so why not give players like Nkeitah, Willock and Maitland-Niles more regular minutes? And what could Balogun do in the top flight?

When asked at his press conference, Arteta replied: “We need everyone on board, obviously we have a large squad at the moment with players who have returned from injury, so we will have the opportunity to choose who is better at the moment. and even so”. rotate some players. But it gives us more options in the Premier League, to focus there and try to get the results we need. “

Only Arteta can make these calls, but Thursday may have given her pause.
Charlotte Marsh

Arsenal fixtures

Sunday, December 13: Burnley (h)

Wed Dec 16: Southampton (h)

Saturday December 19: Everton (a)

Mourinho continues to have confidence problems

Spurs led their Europa League group to a relative gallop at the end, without conceding a single shot on goal in their 2-0 win over their closest rivals Antwerp to secure the top spot.

But with that in mind, why did José Mourinho feel the need to introduce Heung-Min Son, Harry Kane and Tanguy Ndombele from the bench with more than half an hour to go, especially moments after they had taken the lead?

Mourinho hasn’t held back with his comments on some of his fringe players during this Europa League campaign, especially after his lousy performance in the reverse match against Antwerp, and as actions will always speak louder than words, he certainly reads between the lines. . as to what these substitutes are supposed to mean.

Even in last week’s draw at LASK, the manager made a pointed comment that the Spurs’ second series had an attitude problem and did not feel they needed to produce the intensity required in the European second division group stage, and by saying that he brought the trio after “winning the game”, he made it clear that the reserves are not yet in danger of overthrowing those ahead in the pecking order.

It doesn’t seem to suit some; Harry Winks disappeared down the tunnel and never came back, the unused understudy Dele Alli at least reappeared in his seat after a short break. But there isn’t much I can say to Mourinho either. Spurs have topped their group and are the best in the Premier League. Who is going to tell you that you are doing it wrong?
Ron Walker

Tottenham fixtures

Sunday, December 13: Crystal Palace (a)

Wed Dec 16: Liverpool (a)

Sunday December 20: Leicester (h)

Rangers now a team to fear in Europe

Rangers have come a long way from the team that just three years ago was kicked out of Europe by Progres Niederkorn minnows to now one that has topped their Europa League group after winning 2-0 in Lech Poznan.

As a result, Steven Gerrard’s team will now be seeded for Monday’s draw of the last 32, and no one will want to face them in the knockout phase.

This latest win came with Gerrard resting seven top teams ahead of Sunday’s game with Dundee United in Tannadice – live Soccer Sky Sports Not that I would have known after another impressive exhibition in Europe.

The Rangers are now undefeated in 26 games at home and abroad this season and had it not been for two late errors against Benfica, they would have won all six games in their section.
Richard Morgan

Rangers Schedule

Sunday, December 13: Dundee United

Wed Dec 16: St Mirren (a)

Saturday December 19: Motherwell (h)

Leicester represents a formidable obstacle

On paper, tradition or reputation, Leicester City is probably the first English team that the continent’s clubs would like to tie in the knockout stages of the Europa League.

At first glance, there is good reason, with three Premier League heavyweights – Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal – all in Monday’s round of 32 draw. But it scratches below the surface and Leicester is a side that clubs would do well to avoid.

As the first Europa League campaigns progress, they are not much better than those of Leicester, which beat AEK Athens to advance to the knockout stage as the seeded team after finishing the group stage as Group G winners.

And the way they made seven pre-match changes and still outperformed AEK offered another reminder not only of the talent Brendan Rodgers has at his disposal, but also of his ability to keep taking them off the track.

Benfica, Real Sociedad and Olympiakos are the heavy hitters Rodgers’ team could attract, but with the influence of Harvey Barnes continuing to grow, the rise of Cengiz Under, and the prolific form of Jamie Vardy, the Foxes have earned the right to fear not. nobody.
Jack Wilkinson

Leicester fixtures

Sunday, December 13: Brighton (h)

Wed Dec 16: Everton (h)

Sunday December 20: Tottenham (a)

Green shoots of recovery for Celtic

This was a performance of some value and a first win in six games in all competitions for Celtic. Lille came to Glasgow with something to play with. The prize of a third consecutive victory in the Europa League would have cemented the first place in Group H.

But Neil Lennon turned to his fringe players and now has a selection problem ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership clash against Kilmarnock. Ismaila Soro was excellent in place of Scott Brown.

Ewan Henderson provided the long-lost desire and commitment to his teammates when he replaced the injured Jeremie Frimpong early. And in David Turnbull, Celtic had the most outstanding player in the game and the winner of the match.

Turnbull’s talent has fluctuated intermittently since his summer arrival from Motherwell, but Lille couldn’t beat him. This was one more indication that Lennon has perhaps been too loyal to the old guard, and those who fired Lille must surely now be inescapable for the weekend.

It was a vibrant Celtic team that took the fight to a Ligue 1 side sitting just two points behind Paris Saint-Germain and beat AC Milan 3-0 at San Siro during this group stage campaign.

It’s a shame Celtic haven’t performed with the same intensity for the full 90 minutes of any of their previous five games, but Lennon can sleep soundly for now after witnessing green shoots of recovery.
Ben grounds

Celtic fixtures

Sunday, December 13: Kilmarnock (h)

Wed Dec 23: Ross County (h)

Saturday, December 26: Academic Hamilton (h)