Arsenal's Europa League campaign teetered on the brink after a 3-1 defeat to Rennes in the first leg of their round of 16 tie, with manager Unai Emery admitting the task of overturning the deficit appears daunting.
The Gunners fell behind early when Alex Iwobi opened the scoring, but Rennes equalized through Benjamin Bourigeaud's strike. A second yellow card for Sokratis Papastathopoulos left Arsenal with 10 men before halftime, allowing Rennes to add two more goals in the second half.
Emery acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, 'We know it’s a bad result and it’s going to be tough. It’s not a good experience because we couldn’t do our work in difficult minutes with one less player.' The French side now hold a commanding advantage ahead of the return leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Rennes' performance highlighted their confidence, with Bourigeaud delivering a standout display. Meanwhile, Arsenal's Mesut Ozil struggled, prompting questions about his reliability in high-stakes away matches.
Hatem Ben Arfa, who faced Emery during their time together at Paris Saint-Germain, remarked on the manager's unchanged demeanor, saying, 'I saw the same Emery, as agitated as ever.' However, it was Bourigeaud's clinical finishing that defined the match, marking a historic moment for the French club.
The result leaves Arsenal needing a remarkable turnaround to progress, with Emery's tactical decisions under scrutiny as the team prepares for the critical second leg.
