Mkhitaryan doubt for Rennes visit with back strain

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is a doubt for Arsenal’s Europa League last-16 second leg match against Rennes after suffering a back strain.

Arsenal lost 3-1 in France last week, suffering badly after a 41st-minute red card for Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

They will need all the help they can get in attempting to overturn the deficit on Thursday, though Mkhitaryan – who was named the club’s Player of the Month for February – could miss out.

Arsenal revealed on Wednesday that the Armenia international is being monitored after sustaining a “mild back strain”.

The 30-year-old is the only new injury worry, however, with Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding (both knee) and Danny Welbeck all long-term absentees.

Congratulations, @HenrikhMkh 

Player of the Month for February with 40% of the vote 

 Three assists
 Two goals#MickiMagic 

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) March 12, 2019