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Arsenal had to overturn a disappointing 1-0 first-leg deficit in the round of 32, but did so comfortably with a 3-0 home victory over Belarus side Bate Borisov.

Opponents Rennes defeated La Liga side Real Betis 3-1 in Spain to secure their place in the last 16, following an entertaining 3-3 draw at home.

Rennes haven't played for eight days and have lost just three times in 15 games this calendar year.

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Former Newcastle winger Hatem Ben Arfa starts for Rennes tonight - he did not feature at all under Arsenal boss Unai Emery at Paris St-Germain, but has found form since joining Rennes as a free agent in September.

"He is a very good player," Emery said. "He is playing with a big performance and we know they have good organisation, good players and one is Ben Arfa.

"We need to control his quality, his skills, because in the two matches they played against Betis he was playing very well. It is not only Ben Arfa, they have good defensive players, but mostly Ben Arfa is very important for them."

Rennes manager Julien Stephan tweaks the side that drew in their last Ligue 1 fixture against Marseille.

Rami Bensebaini starts in defence, with former Newcastle and Paris St-Germain forward Hatem Ben Arfa also starting.

Rennes: Koubek, Zeffane, Da Silva, Mexer, Bensebaini, Grenier, Andre, Hunou, Bourigeaud, Sarr, Ben Arfa

Subs: Badiashile, Doumbia, Johansson, Lea-Siliki, Lauriente, Del Castillo, Gelin

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Arsenal manager Unai Emery makes four changes from the north London derby draw against Tottenham.

Petr Cech starts in goal, while Lucas Torreira, Mesut Ozil, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also come in. Bernd Leno, Aaron Ramsey, Alexandre Lacazette and Matteo Guendouzi all drop out.

Arsenal: Cech, Mustafi, Koscielny, Sokratis, Monreal, Xhaka, Torreira, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Iwobi, Aubameyang

Subs: Leno, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Suarez, Nketiah

Roma have not messed about - hours after going out of the Champions League they have sacked their manager, with reports that Claudio Ranieri is about to step in for the rest of the season.

I don't think you can watch Fulham games in Italy.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery makes four changes from the north London derby against Tottenham.

In come Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Full team news on its way.

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Now we are moving towards the business end of the Europa League, has it eclipsed the Premier League in importance for any Arsenal or Chelsea fans out there?

The winners get a place in next season's Champions League of course, and the two Prenier League sides are two of the top three favourites with the bookies to win it, split only by Napoli.

Let me know your thoughts on the usual channels...

If you've lost count, we're down to the last 16 in the Europa League now. 874 teams have been knocked out and there's two Premier League sides still in the mix.

Stand by for:

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Rennes v Arsenal (17:55 GMT)

Chelsea v Dynamo Kiev (20:00 GMT)

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It has been in Europe.

Sensational shocks in Madrid, miraculous comebacks in Paris, the Champions League has served up two nights of footballing drama at the very highest level.

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Europa League Thursdays are often a bit of a comedown. Let's hope this week Arsenal and Chelsea can keep the standard sky high...