FootieTalks

Arsenal will be without striker Alexandre Lacazette when they face Rennes in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 clash on Thursday. The striker is suspended for both legs after being sent off in the last round for elbowing an opponent against BATE Borisov. His absence is likely to mean Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang starts in France, having started on the bench for the north London derby on Saturday. Aubameyang came on as a substitute against Tottenham and spawned the chance to win the derby for his team, with his penalty saved late on, and the match finished 1-1. Rennes are 10th in Ligue 1 and should be well rested after their Ligue 1 game at the weekend was postponed allowing them time to prepare for the Europa League. Rennes, who beat Real Betis in the last round, have had an eight-day break between games, leaving them much fresher than the Arsenal team who are playing this tie, between two vital Premier League encounters. With a vital game against Manchester United qui

A poor penalty by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was saved in the last minute as Arsenal threw away a chance to win and close the gap to just one point in the race for top four, against their bitter rivals, in a 1-1 against Tottenham at Wembley. Welsh playmaker Aaron Ramsey, playing in his final north London derby before leaving to join Juventus in the summer, coolly finished on a divisive counter-attack after 16 minutes to put the Gunners ahead. Spurs levelled from the penalty spot in the 74th minute through Harry Kane after he had been pushed over by make-shift right back Shkodran Mustafi. Arsenal might have been hurt by the decision as Kane was offside before he was fouled, but they spurned the chance to snatch victory when Lloris saved Aubameyang's penalty in the 89th minute and Jan Vertonghen blocked the follow-up shot on the line. Arsenal have the right to feel even more aggrieved as defender Vertonghen was well inside the area before Aubameyang struck the penalty. Things