Europa League tips: Arsenal set sights on Europe; Man United target silverware
The Europa League quarterfinals are upon us as both Arsenal and Manchester United look to bag a place in the next round and meet their differing ambitions.
As things stand, the Gunners are tenth in the Premier League and are currently ten points behind fourth-placed West Ham.
With eight league games remaining, Arteta's men would need a miracle to qualify for the Champions League via the top four.
As for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the aim is simple - win his first piece of silverware as manager of the Red Devils.
It's been almost four years since Manchester United last won a trophy and in the eyes of many supporters, that is simply unacceptable for a club of that stature.
Here, we take a look at all four of the upcoming Europa League quarterfinals, including an appetising contest between Ajax and AS Roma.
Cafu, Emerson, Rafael van der Vaart, Zlatan Ibrahimovic… even Steven Pienaar. Those are just some of the names that took part in the last head-to-head encounter between these two clubs.
That match took place during the 2002/2003 Champions League campaign and it ended in a 1-1 draw in Rome.
Ajax won the earlier group game 2-1; a win which helped them qualify for the following round of the competition.
Vanavond #Ajax A1 - AS Roma o/19 (@UEFAYouthLeague) op de Toekomst. In 2002 eindigde CL-duel #ajarom in 2-1. #UYL pic.twitter.com/BzP0oxMRNS
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) February 24, 2015
The names on the teamsheet may not sound as glamours this time round however, that's partly down to the injury problems that both sides are experiencing.
Roma, for instance, are missing a number of players including the likes of Stephan El Shaarawy, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Chris Smalling.
Nevertheless, the Dutch side are the in-form team having gone 24 consecutive games unbeaten across all competitions. Roma can't say the same having lost two of their last four. With that in mind, Ajax are the ones to back at around Even money.
Arsenal are in dreadful form having failed to win any of their last three competitive games. The Gunners marked their return from international break with a 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool; their first loss against the Reds at the Emirates since 2016.
A full flowing team move, wonderfully capped off by a young Theo Walcott 👏
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 19, 2020
The Gunners' biggest win in Europe! 🔥🔥🔥
🏴 Arsenal 🆚 Slavia Prague 🇨🇿
📆 2007/08
📺 8:30pm, BT Sport 1 HD pic.twitter.com/9p3MgaDmBl
After spectacularly dumping out Tottenham of the competition, Dinamo Zagreb turn their attention to Villarreal.