Arsenal v Red Star Belgrade preview: Arsene Wenger to rotate for Europa League clash

Arsene Wenger will continue with his policy of squad rotation as Arsenal host Red Star Belgrade in their Europa League Group H clash on Thursday night (kick-off 8.05pm).

The Arsenal manager has made sweeping changes from his Premier League side and the likes of Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud are once again expected to come in.

However, that means Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez will not feature against Red Star as Arsenal prepare for the tough test against early Premier League pace-setters Manchester City on Sunday.

"Both of the teams do well," Wenger replied when asked about his squad rotation across competitions.

"Even in training, when we play them against each other, it's very tight. I've gone into a rotation policy and I want to stick to that at the moment.

"I must say that I am pleased with the quality of our performances in every single competition.

"It's very difficult to make a change. They all want competition, they all deserve competition because of their quality.

"If you look at the number of minutes played by all of these players since the start of the season, many of them are in very competitive shape and that should be an advantage of us for the rest of the season."

Sead Kolasinac is also unlikely to feature against Red Star due to a hip problem, although Wenger revealed the wing back, who scored and laid on the winning goal in the 2-1 victory over Swansea City on Saturday, is expected to recover in time for the trip to City.

Meanwhile, Wilshere - who has played just 13 minutes of Premier League football despite his return to fitness - has had to use his opportunities in the Europa League to make an impact.

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And the England international is likely to once again start on Thursday with Arsenal knowing victory will secure qualification into the round of 32.

"I can only repeat what I personally think: I don't know how you can keep a super-fit Jack out of the England squad," Wenger said in his pre-match press conference.

"No. I manage him like every single player. Since three weeks, he is treated like any other player."

Team news

Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring), Sead Kolasinac (hip), Santi Cazorla (ankle), Danny Welbeck and David Ospina (both groin) will all play no part against Red Star.

For the visitors, left-back Milan Rodic is serving a one-match suspension after picking up a red card when the two clubs met last month.

Opta stats

• Arsenal's win in Belgrade was their first in three meetings with Crvena Zvezda - they also met in the 1978-79 UEFA Cup last 16 when Arsenal were eliminated after they lost 1-0 on the road and then drew 1-1 Highbury
• Arsenal have only ever won their opening four games in the group stages of European competition once - winning their first five in the 2005-06 Champions League en route to the final
• The Gunners are unbeaten in all six of their home UEFA Cup/Europa League games under Arsene Wenger, winning the last five in a row after drawing with PAOK Salonika in 1997-98
• Arsenal have only failed to score in one of their last 26 games in European competition, with that failure coming at the Emirates against Barcelona in February 2016 (0-2)
• Olivier Giroud has been directly involved in eight goals in his last eight starts in Europe for Arsenal (seven goals, one assist)

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Charlie's predictions

Crvena Zvezda weren't bad in the reverse fixture and clearly have some talented youngsters in their ranks, but Arsenal have quality in depth.

It will largely be the kids mixed in with a few players looking to play their way into Arsene Wenger's thoughts for Super Sunday's clash with Manchester City.

It is awkward for Theo Walcott. I don't think Arsene Wenger trusts him and he isn't even getting off the bench in the Premier League now, so he really needs to consider his future.

I see another comfortable night even if Arsenal, even if the mass changes makes it more complicated than it would be otherwise.

Charlie predicts: 2-0 Walcott to score first (18/1 with Sky Bet)

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Betting

Arsenal are Sky Bet's 1/3 favourites for the victory, with Crvena Zvezda up against odds of 8/1 to win and 9/2 to leave the Emirates with a point. The Gunners are even shorter odds to win Group H and 11/2 outright favourites. Giroud heads the first goalscorer betting at 11/4, despite not being considered Wenger's first-choice option for Premier League action, while Richmond Boakye is rated the visitors' main threat at 8/1 to net first.

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