Arsenal get their European campaign underway on Thursday night when they take on Cologne at the Emirates.

Arsene Wenger plans to rest seven first-team players for the visit of the Bundesliga basement-boys as he gives the likes of the fit-again Jack Wilshere the chance to shine.

Manchester United gained a backdoor route into the Champions League last year after winning the Europa League.

So should Wenger be taking the same approach as Jose Mourinho given the battle to finish in the Premier League's top four.

Our reporters have their say:

(Image: BPI/REX/Shutterstock)

John Cross

Yes. I feel very strongly that English clubs don't give the competition the respect it deserves so I was thrilled when Man United won it.

We've not been good enough to win the Champions League, so why not try to win the Europa?

Show Player

Man United did rest and rotate if you look at their teams through the competition but they did field big players consistently.

Arsenal's forward line will be very strong tonight, Sanchez starts, Ospina in goal, back three is strong and there's a couple of squad players in. So I don't think that's too bad. They're definitely putting out a team they think will be strong enough to win.

They'll then step it up through the knock out and try to win it.

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Mike Walters

Never mind taking it seriously - winning the Europa League is probably Arsenal's only chance of a quick return to Champions League football next season.

They have made an unconvincing start to domestic chores, and already it is hugely debatable whether the Gunners are going to finish in the Premier League's top four, so Arsene Wenger has little choice.

If he doesn't pick strong teams in Europe, he might as well hand his critics their boarding passes for the next fly-past protest.

After the spineless surrender at Anfield, where Wenger's side displayed all the backbone of jellyfish, Arsenal do not appear any better-equipped to win proverbial six-pointers against top-four rivals.

This weekend's trip to Chelsea will provide more instructive evidence of their mettle for taking points off the big guns instead of being flat-track bullies against the likes of Bournemouth.

But in the meantime, Wenger would be best served following Mourinho's template and treating the Europa League with deadly seriousness... because it might be his only route to salvation.

Europa League match preview: Arsenal v FC Cologne

James Nursey

Yes but Arsenal have a very winnable group and may not have to wheel out their big stars until the knock-out stages.

Mourinho seemed to take it increasingly seriously last season at Manchester United as he assessed their top four chances were diminishing.

Arsene Wenger would be shrewd to adopt a similar approach if in the New Year the Gunners are still in Europe but adrift of the top four in the Premier League.

(Image: Arsenal FC/Getty)

Alex Richards

Arsene Wenger needs a big season in the Premier League to appease the baying mass of Arsenal fans who want him out.

Wins in the Europa League group stage aren't going to help him on that front. Supporters need to see the Gunners in the title conversation come Christmas, with Wenger needing to give them something to strive for in the second half of the season.

A second-string Arsenal side should march through the group stage given their group. Then, come February, depending on the club's position domestically, things can be re-evaluated, in much the manner of Jose Mourinho last season.

Wenger has a large enough squad that he can treat the Europa League seriously. But, crucially, he needs to ensure that the Premier League is the priority right now.

(Image: PA)

Steve Bates

Yes Wenger should take it seriously because both he and Arsenal are in no position to pick and choose which trophies they should prioritise.

Jose Mourinho quickly realised last season his side weren't title contenders so he focused on winning cups and ended up with a double in the shape of the EFL and Europa League.

Not the most prestigious silverware - but he trumped Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp who won nothing.

The Premier League is beyond Arsenal again this season but a strong Europa League campaign would give Wenger some badly needed credibility.

A top four finish seems a tall order for the Gunners this season and Wenger's critics are already circling again.

So it would seem madness for Wenger not to try to win a European trophy that gave Manchester United a route into Champions League this season.

With his reputation tarnished and future Arsenal legacy already in jeopardy turning his back on the Europa League would be a foolish and arrogant move.

Arsene Wenger speaks ahead of Arsenal's opening Europa League match

Richard Innes

In an ideal world, Arsenal would pour everything they can into their first Europa League campaign.

In an ideal world, they would put 100 percent into every competition, sign a world class holding midfielder, overhaul their defence, make Alexis Sanchez happy and finally make a genuine tilt at wining the Premier League.

As Arsenal fans are well aware, this is not an ideal world.

The reality is that Arsenal HAVE to make the top four of the Premier League this season - and to do that, they need to prioritise league games over anything else. Ask any Gooner if they would rather beat Cologne on Thursday or Chelsea on Sunday and I can tell you exactly what the answer will be.

The comparison with Man United's Europa League campaign last season is an easy one - but it's also entirely unfair.

It's one thing talking about winning the competition when you reach the semi-finals… but there was a good reason Mourinho was anything but enthusiastic about United's European games at the START of the season.

And it's the exact same reason Wenger is right to be anything but happy about it now.

(Image: PA)

Andy Dunn

Zorya, Feyenoord, Fenerbahce, St Etienne, FC Rostov, Anderlecht, Celta Vigo, Ajax. The odd decent team amongst that lot but hardly a Who’s Who of European football.

They are the teams Manchester United had to scramble past to win the Europa League and earn a place in this season’s Champions League.

Incidentally, United were beaten by Feyenoord and Fenerbahce.

Of course Arsene Wenger should take the Europa League seriously. If you can make a judgement on the scant evidence of this season, the chances of Arsenal winning the Europa :League are probably as good, if not better, than them finishing in the top four.

(Image: REUTERS)

Neil Moxley

Yes, he should. Why? He has the depth of squad and needs an insurance policy if, as expected, Arsenal find themselves trailing in the Premier League title race.

Don't forget Manchester United finished sixth last season. Yet everyone forgets that now they are safely progressing in this term's Champions League.

And there is nothing like plonking a cup on the sideboard to silence any critics. To be honest, it would be bizarre if he did anything else but take it seriously.

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Liam Prenderville

Arsenal have got the squad to manage the Europa League and Premier League - but domestic matters must take preference.

As things stand, the Gunners are probably the sixth best team in the Premier League and face a real struggle to make the top four.

The Europa League may well be their best hope of getting into next year's Champions League and they are sure to take it somewhat seriously, despite the changes expected against Cologne.

But I don't think Arsenal fans will accept prioritising the competition, such is the long slog that is ahead. The Premier League remains the main focus and finishing outside the top four again will be a real worry, regardless of their European success.

Arsenal simply cannot afford to fall further adrift of those sides above them.

The Arsenal players welcome the young gunners to join in their team photo

Neil McLeman

No (not yet). Jose Mourinho only targetted the Europa League last season when he realised it was his best way of returning to the Champions League.

That should be Arsenal's target this season - and the first way of doing so is finishing in the top four of the Premier League.

Like Manchester United last spring, it can be fall-back option and Arsenal should have a strong enough squad to get to the business end of the competition without playing their strongest team in the Europa League.