The Arsenal stars playing for their futures in the Europa League

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James Olley14 September 2017

Arsenal may not have much collective interest in the Europa League as it gets underway, but the competition could have great significance for the future of many players involved.

Manager Arsene Wenger is expected to heavily rotate his starting line-up to face Cologne with Sunday’s Premier League trip to Chelsea in mind, meaning the matchday squad will comprise a host of individuals whose careers are at something of a crossroads.

The Gunners’ difficulty in tying down Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to new contracts is well documented, but there are several other players whose existing agreements expire within the next two years and the Europa League is set to offer them a rare - and perhaps final - chance to prove themselves.

Contract expiry 2018

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Sanchez and Ozil fall into this category but neither is expected to play a prominent role in the group stages and, in any case, the club’s desire to keep both is clear, with vastly lucrative extensions offered to both.

Jack Wilshere and David Ospina are also in the final year of their deals but find themselves in a more complicated position.

Wenger believes that despite a horrific run of injuries, Wilshere is not a busted flush and can rediscover the form that at one time earned him praise as one of the finest emerging talents England had to offer.

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The 25-year-old turned down interest from clubs to try to salvage his Arsenal career and the mission is simple: put together an injury-free run of performances somewhere near his best.

Ospina was keen on leaving the Gunners in the last two summer windows but both times Wenger talked him into staying.

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The Colombian was Wenger’s preferred goalkeeper in Europe last season and he will reprise that role in the Europa League but with Cech still around, Ospina is likely to view these games as a chance to put himself in the shop window, given he is free to negotiate with overseas clubs in January.

Per Mertesacker is also in his final year but he has little to prove, given the Academy manager’s job that awaits him upon retirement.

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Contract expiry 2019

Olivier Giroud yesterday reiterated how close he came to leaving the club this summer but given he remains ahead of Alexandre Lacazette in the pecking order for France, the 30-year-old is confident he can still get his share of game-time at Emirates Stadium.

Giroud’s ability to score goals off the bench makes him a useful squad member for Wenger but the striker himself believes he can still lead the line in the biggest competitions. Doing so effectively here will enhance his case.

Theo Walcott has been a peripheral figure since Wenger switched to a 3‑4‑2‑1 system in April, starting just one game since.

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The 28-year-old is not sufficiently defensively disciplined to operate as a wing-back and his aspirations of playing as a centre-forward seem loftier still following Lacazette’s arrival.

The Europa League gives him an opportunity to remind Wenger of his talents, a motivation heightened by a desire to make England’s squad for next summer’s World Cup finals.

Arsenal hold Reiss Nelson in high regard and Wenger is expected to use this competition - in addition to the Carabao Cup - to blood the 17-year-old at first-team level.

He played at right wing-back in pre-season but is more comfortable playing further forward and his progress in the Europa League will determine whether Nelson is ready to make a valuable contribution now or whether a loan spell would be more suitable.

The rest

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Shkodran Mustafi joined the club just over a year ago from Valencia but the £34million centre-half was heavily linked with a move to Inter Milan last month only for the two clubs to fail to agree a fee.

After the window closed, the Germany international started the next match, against Bournemouth, but his exact place in the pecking order remains uncertain.

Calum Chambers, a talented youngster whose career has lost a sense of direction, could play a significant part as the Europa League group stage unfolds once he returns from a groin injury.

With Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey now set as Wenger’s first-choice central-midfield pairing, the gauntlet has been thrown down to Mohamed Elneny to force his way back into contention.

Alex Iwobi impressed when breaking into the team last season but he has since struggled for opportunities and has made just one substitute appearance during this campaign.

Just like many others, he will hope the Europa League gives him a new lease of life.

Possible teams

Arsenal (3-4-2-1): Ospina, Holding, Mertesacker, Mustafi; Nelson, Wilshere, Elneny, Maitland-Niles; Walcott, Iwobi; Giroud

Cologne (4-4-1-1): Horn, Klunter, Mere, Heintz, Hector; Zoller, Hoger, Lehmann, Bittencourt; Osaka; Cordoba