Europa League boss endorses Arsenal’s rotation policy

Joe Williams

Red Star Belgrade boss Vladan Milojevic has backed Arsene Wenger’s decision to rest his key players in this season’s Europa League.

The Serbian SuperLiga side face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night looking to take a positive result and keep their hopes of progressing from Group H alive.

Arsenal will qualify for the round of 32 if they can repeat their victory in Belgrade a fortnight ago, where an Olivier Giroud goal settled the game in favour of the visitors.

Giroud, as well as the likes of Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Petr Cech played at the Rajko Mitic Stadium alongside a host of fringe players and youngsters as Wenger continues to shuffle his pack.

Players such as Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez are being saved for Premier League action – particularly with a trip to pacesetters Manchester City on Sunday – and Milojevic insists he is not disappointed that his side will not be tested against Arsenal’s biggest names.

“I think last time after the first match in Belgrade, the Arsenal squad proved it is much bigger than ours and they have quality players and they all deserve to play in the first team,” he said.

“Arsene Wenger knows his players, I don’t want to interfere in is job – they are playing in four different competitions.

“They have shown they have a big roster of players, such high-quality players and Arsene Wenger is looking to the future and he is balancing young players with experienced players.

“These young players can get lots of experiences in the Europa League and I can understand that he will give chances to them. That is important for their future.

“They showed in Belgrade they are such a strong team but I think we can still play our own game, compete with them.”

Red Star have won their three league matches since their narrow defeat to Arsenal in Belgrade and sit top of the league.

But Milojevic is keen for his players to continue testing themselves against clubs such as Arsenal.

Asked about Arsenal’s European record, the former defender replied: “You think I am scared about anything?

“No, I’m not afraid of anything, this is football. If I was scared ahead of this match I would change my job and wouldn’t be here.

“My players need these kind of matches, the ideal would be to play these matches every week because you can grow and be a big player but on the other hand I’m glad this generation of Red Star Belgrade players have done a job to bring the club to the Emirates Stadium.

“Arsenal is one of the best football clubs in the world, we will play our best – this is football and anything is possible.”