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Five talking points ahead of the Europa League quarter-final action

:Headline: Five talking points ahead of the Europa League quarter-final action:
Manchester United and Arsenal hope to book places in the last four of the competition.
Sports Mole

Manchester United and Arsenal hope to reach the last four of the Europa League on Thursday.

United take a 2-0 lead into their quarter-final return with Granada at Old Trafford, while Arsenal head to Slavia Prague with the tie delicately poised at 1-1.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the main talking points.

Yellow peril for United

United cruised to a first-leg win in Spain with Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes on target and Granada offering little attacking threat. The Old Trafford rematch looks a formality for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, with Ajax or Roma awaiting in their last four. But United picked up costly bookings in southern Spain with Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay all suspended for the second leg. Could it offer Granada an unlikely route back into the tie?

Time for Rashford rest?

Marcus Rashford's importance to United has been reflected by his impressive statistics this season – 20 goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances. But does the England striker need a rest after being substituted in his last four games? Rashford's first-leg role against Granada was uncertain because of fitness issues, but the 23-year-old still came up with a superb finish to put United in the driving seat. Solskjaer, however, might consider a 2-0 lead good enough to give Rashford a much-needed breather ahead of some key games.

Spotlight on Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faces his biggest game of the season against Slavia Prague (John Walton/PA)

The old adage in football says the next game is the most important one and this is certainly true in the case of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. A 3-0 weekend win at Sheffield United, while welcome after four games without victory, came against Championship-bound opponents and with Arsenal in the bottom half of the Premier League at kick-off. Arteta has been under fierce scrutiny in recent weeks and the prospect of no European football next season would provide further ammunition for his critics.

Martinelli call

Gabriel Martinelli rose to prominence in the Europa League last season with three goals in his first two appearances in the competition. The 19-year-old forward's progress was slowed by a bad run of injuries, but former Gunners defender Martin Keown has been among those calling for the Brazilian to be given more game time. Martinelli made only his fourth Premier League start of the season against Sheffield United and was on target. Could he be the man to upset Slavia hosts who are unbeaten since December and have already knocked Leicester and Rangers out of the Europa League?

Emery reunion hope

Unai Emery's spell as Arsenal manager lasted only 18 months before coming to an end in November 2019 (Adam Davy/PA)

Will Villarreal boss Unai Emery get the last laugh on Arsenal? The Spaniard lasted only 18 months at the Emirates Stadium after succeeding Arsene Wenger in May 2018. But Emery could meet his former side with Villarreal holding a 1-0 lead over Dinamo Zagreb after their first-leg win in Croatia. Villarreal and Arsenal are on a Europa League semi-final collision course, and that would hand Emery the perfect opportunity for revenge against his former employers.

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Read more about Marcus Rashford Unai Emery Mikel Arteta Gabriel Martinelli Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Luke Shaw Scott McTominay Harry Maguire Football
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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256
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