James Benge - Arsenal Correspondent
It's that time of year again for Arsenal when the arrival of the Europa League spoils all the optimism around the club.
It is not just the reality of playing in this second tier competition that is so egregious but the damage it does to the physical intensity of Unai Emery's squad.
Last season Arsenal suffered two periods when their form seriously tailed off, just after the ending of the group stages of the Europa League and heading into the final rounds of the competition in late March and April.
The Thursday-Sunday grind robbed them of key defenders and left those still standing exhausted. Emery has been candid enough to admit that was the case.
The simple solution would be to hand the competition over to Arsenal's youngsters, allowing Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock and others to earn their spurs.
However the competition has thrown up the sort of fiddly fixtures against solid sides from Germany, Portugal and Belgium that could represent a baptism of fire for the young guns if they are not sufficiently reinforced with the experience of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Granit Xhaka and others.
How he manages the need to rest key players whilst avoiding any undue embarrassment away from the domestic game is by far the biggest selection dilemma facing Emery over the coming weeks.
Andy Ha - Live Blogger
With Rob Holding nearing a return to full fitness, Unai Emery will have a big decision to make in terms of his first choice centre backs.
A back four looks to be the Arsenal manager's preferred formation this season, which means only two out of Sokratis, David Luiz and Holding will start.
Luiz has made a quiet start in north London, but with the fixtures easing, the Brazilian's passing ability will be crucial in upcoming games against teams which sit deep. Sokratis, a often dependable starter for Emery when fit, is likely to play - but who will partner him?
Holding was in excellent form last season before his unfortunate injury against Manchester United, but the former Bolton defender will push hard to regain his spot in the team. Emery has some head scratching to do.
Greg Johnson - Editor-In-Chief
Mesut Ozil. What is the plan for him and does he get into Arsenal's best XI?
There are issues to address in defence, arguments to be had over the best selection in midfield and a need to get the front three firing, but the German remains one of the most technically impressive footballers in the Premier League.
Leaving him out of the team for the sake of a stronger collective is a big call, and for some the correct one for Unai Emery to make.
However, given his quality when he is played in the right role and the right set up, having Ozil outside of the starting line up will continue to look like money left on the table.
On paper, a front three of Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, fed by Arsenal's No. 10, with the support of Dani Ceballos in a deeper role, similar to how Santi Cazorla used to play, sounds ideal.
On the pitch, finding the right balance to enable such a team to function and protect the defence is another matter.
Whether or not Ozil plays, and in what capacity, remains the big question for fans of the Gunners and those looking in on a squad so often sent to play without their top earner and, supposedly, their best player.
