In recent years, facing a team from Germany has usually come to mean just one thing for Arsenal : they're playing Bayern Munich and they're about to get hammered.

But the Gunners have left their Champions League difficulties behind them this season, dropping into the much more serene setting of the Europa League, much to the disappointment of their army of supporters.

Arsene Wenger's men take on Bundesliga outfit Cologne in their opening match at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday, preparing for the game at their London Colney training base on Wednesday.
Piggy in the middle again? (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

And we noticed a few things from their training session.

Seven of them, in fact, as the headline above suggests.

1. With Jack Wilshere primed for a rare start against the Germans, his teammates decided to test out if he was up to the task of playing in a combative midfield role
"Right lads, on three everybody run straight at Jack. Three!" (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

2. Elsewhere, the manager patiently watched on as young Rob Holding insisted on showing him his overhead kicks
"This time Gaffer, this time. Are you watching? Are you watching Gaffer? Are you?" (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

3. Having impressed Arsenal fans with his strength and physicality since joining the club in the summer, Sead Kolasinac was going through his usual round of conditioning training
"Right, everyone line up one by one behind Shkodran, and I'll take on the whole lot of ya!" (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

4. Primed to make his home debut in a competitive match, exciting youngster Reiss Nelson mentally prepared himself to play in front of the Emirates Stadium crowd
"I must not laugh at the stupid banners I must not laugh at the stupid banners I must not laugh..." (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

5. Olivier Giroud , another Gunner set to start, looked supremely focused and ready to embrace the specific challenges that face both him and his teammates against a side who've lost all three of their Bundesliga matches so far this season, including 3-0 to the mighty Augsburg at the weekend

"Did I leave the iron on?" (
Image:
PA)

6. As ever, the mood of Alexis Sanchez was on everyone's minds, and his teammates are *still* talking about a certain move that didn't happen
"Yeah apparently he'd booked them in to some sort of fancy Manchester dog spa... hahaha!" (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

7. And as for Wenger, well he was obviously preparing for his first European match outside of the Champions League for 17 years with all of the dedication, determination and attention to detail that you'd expect from him
"I just don't care!" (
Image:
PA)

Click here for all the latest *actual* news ahead of Arsenal v Cologne

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