Arsenal took an inexperienced squad on their trip around Ukraine ahead of their Europa League group game against Poltava on Thursday night.

With qualification already sealed, Arsenal know a win in Kiev will secure top spot in the group.

Despite that, Unai Emery has opted to leave a host of senior players at home with a  watchful eye on Sunday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur who will be buoyed by their 1-0 win over Inter Milan on Wednesday night ahead of one of their two cup finals of the season.

What follows comes via UEFA.

Semi-finalists in 2017/18, Arsenal visit Ukraine with ten Group E points in the bag and qualification for this season’s knockout phase already assured. Their hosts Vorskla Poltava must turn around a poor home record in Europe to have any chance of joining the London club in the round of 32 – though even a win might not be sufficient.

Vorskla have won just one of their four Group E matches, 1-0 at Qarabağ on matchday three, losing the other three, including both at home – to Sporting CP (1-2) and Qarabağ (0-1) last time out. To remain in contention they must beat Arsenal and hope that Sporting do not do likewise in Azerbaijan.

Arsenal clinched qualification on matchday four despite dropping their first points of the campaign when they were held 0-0 at home by Sporting. Their first two away games brought maximum points and clean sheets, a 3-0 win at Qarabağ followed by 1-0 at  Sporting. Should they earn a third win in Poltava, they will be guaranteed top spot in the group – though matching Sporting’s result at Qarabağ would also do.