Arsenal kick off their Europa League campaign with a home match against Bundesliga outfit Cologne at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night, and Gunners manager Arsene Wenger may see it as the perfect opportunity to rotate his strong squad.

There is no doubt that Wenger will want the north London outfit to try and win the competition – as Manchester United did last season – in order to guarantee that they will return to the Champions League next season, but he will also view the fixture as a chance to give some of his fringe players playing time and an opportunity to impress.

While Cologne must have something about them to qualify for this competition, the German outfit have started the new league campaign in disastrous form by losing all three of their opening Bundesliga fixtures, conceding seven and scoring just once.

Meanwhile, the Gunners recovered from successive defeats to Stoke City and Liverpool by beating Bournemouth 3-0 at home on Saturday, but Wenger is likely to make a number of alterations to his starting line-up on Thursday with a tough-looking trip to Chelsea on the horizon.

Here are three changes Arsenal must make to give the squad players a chance but still seal a win against Cologne…

Reiss Nelson for Hector Bellerin

Following the departure of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool at the end of the summer transfer window, Hector Bellerin is now the undoubted first-choice in the right wing-back position.

It means that the Spaniard will certainly have his fair share of football across the course of the campaign, and Arsene Wenger may see the clash against Cologne as the chance to give Bellerin a rest – especially with a big Premier League clash against Chelsea to come on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Nelson was one of Arsenal’s most impressive young performers during pre-season and featured as a late substitute against Chelsea in the Community Shield.

The 17-year-old looks to be getting closer to another first-team call after scoring a stunning free-kick for the Under-23 side against Manchester United last week, and it could come at right wing-back against Cologne.

Jack Wilshere for Granit Xhaka

Wilshere hasn’t made an appearance for Arsenal since he featured as a substitute against Watford in the Premier League in August 2016, but that drought could finally come to an end against Cologne on Thursday.

Following a relatively successful season-long loan spell with Bournemouth and having recovered from a fractured leg, the 25-year-old is back in training with the Gunners and looking to salvage his career with the north London outfit.

The England international has less than a year remaining on his contract at the Emirates and Arsene Wenger may feel that the Europa League is the perfect platform for him to give Wilshere an opportunity to impress – starting against the Bundesliga outfit at the Emirates.

Olivier Giroud for Alexandre Lacazette

Giroud has found himself behind Lacazette and Danny Welbeck in the pecking order so far this season, with the Frenchman being restricted to five substitute appearances.

Despite scoring a late winning goal in the 4-3 victory against Leicester City on the opening day of the campaign, the 30-year-old hasn’t worked his way into Arsene Wenger’s side and the Europa League could be the ideal opportunity for him to impress and get some goals.

Having scored 16 goals and provided a further seven assists in 40 appearances in all competitions for the north London outfit last term, the France international has proven that he can be an important player for Arsenal and Wenger can rely on him to lead the line in Europe.

Do you agree, Arsenal fans? Let us know below.