Arsenal v Qarabag: The Brief

We could be in for a glimpse of the future on Thursday night.

In our last Europa League fixture in Kiev, 12 out of the 20-man travelling party were academy products, with three making their first-team debuts.

By the sounds of Unai Emery's pre-match comments, it should be more of the same against Qarabag - and you can certainly understand why.

With four games coming up in the space of 10 days, vital fixtures in the Premier League and the small matter of a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Tottenham, this is a clear opportunity to rotate. Having already secured top spot in Group E, it seems like a no-brainer.

With a buoyant academy producing a host of talented youngsters itching for their chance…