Image source: @Arsenal

Arsene Wenger is set to give a range of his first-team players a rest when the Gunners face Cologne in their Europa League campaign opener on Thursday.

Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Danny Welbeck, Granit Xhaka and Alexandre Lacazette will all be left out of Wenger’s starting 11.

There could be a first appearance for Arsenal in over a year for Jack Wilshere, who will be hoping to impress his manager and prove that he is worthy of being in the first team frame again in the Premier League.

Alexis Sanchez may feature, but Francis Coquelin and Santi Carzola will miss out with a hamstring and ankle problem respectively.

Arsenal’s provisional squad for the game is as follows: Ospina, Macey, Mertesacker, Holding, Monreal, Pleguezuelo, Mustafi, Bellerin, Nelson, Kolasinac, Wilshere, Willock, Elneny, McGuane, Giroud, Walcott, Iwobi, Sanchez, Nketiah.