Europa League, Rennes shock Arsenal with 3-1 win, Sokratis sees red

Arsenal take on Rennes in France this evening as the two sides look get their UEFA Europa League round of 16 tie off to a winning start.

MATCH FACTS

Rennes will be the 10th different French team that Arsenal have faced in all European competition – the Gunners have beaten each of the previous nine French sides they’ve met.
Arsenal have never lost an away game against French opposition (W8 D5 L0). Their only two defeats suffered in France in competitive games came in the 1995 Cup Winners Cup final vs Real Zaragoza and the 2006 Champions League final against Barcelona.
Rennes will be hosting an English side for only the second time in their history, and for the first time since July 2001 when they beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the first leg of their Intertoto Cup semi-final encounter.
This is the sixteenth successive campaign in which Arsenal have reached the last 16 of a major European competition, a run that began in 2003-04. The Gunners reached this stage of the Champions League 14 times between 2004 and 2017, whilst also appearing in the Europa League last 16 last season.
Rennes striker Ismalia Sarr has been directly involved in five goals in the Europa League this season (three goals, two assists); more than any other player for the French side.