Villareal vs Arsenal, Europa League : Unai Emery faces his former club, Match preview

 Unai Emery's Villareal will host M.Arteta's Arsenal in Europa League semi - finals 

Arsenal will be up against Unai Emery's Villareal in a match that could define Arsenal's season, The Gunners will travel to Spain and will be up against the Yellow Submarines at the Estadio La Ceramica Stadium, Arsenal have been really poor this season in the league currently placed 10th in the Premier league table and Europa league triumph is their only gateway to the Champions league next season, where as Villareal are a transformed side under the guidance of Unai Emery and are 7th in the league table pushing for European football but that won't be enough for them and a trophy at the end of the season is what the fans and clubs expect from Mr. Europa league Unai Emery who has won this particular trophy 3 times with Sevilla.

Arsenal have defeated Olympiacos and Slavia Praha to make their way into the semi - finals of the Europa league, Though Arsenal have not been consistent so far this season but they have held their own in the Europa league and will be hoping to get a positive result away at Villareal .

On the other hand Unai Emery will be surely up for the game and will have a point to prove against his former team, remembering the fact he was sacked by Arsenal, this will be Villareal's first semi - finals since losing to Liverpool in this competition in year 2015-16, while in fact they have been knocked out of all major European semi - finals tie which in total accounts for four, Villareal will be banking on the experience of their coach and matter of fact is that playing away at Ceramica stadium is a tough task and it will be up to the Gunners can they come with the goods up against the devilish Emery Villareal.

Arsenal Team news :

Arsenal are boosted by the return of Kieran Tierney, Alexandre Lacazette and Captain Aubameyang which are key players for Arteta's team, but unfortunately David Luiz remains on the sidelines and it will be interesting to see if Odegaard makes it to the team who is pushing hard for match fitness.

Key Players for Arsenal:

Bukayo Saka has established himself as the most influential player this season in Europe,  the 19 year old has played direct part in five goals in seven appearances for Arsenal

 

💬 "They are all in contention. All of them. Including Aubameyang, Laca and Kieran. They are all in contention for the game."

🔜 #UEL

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 28, 2021

 Pablo Mari in pre- match conference talked about his dream for playing Valencia and how he supported the club and fate has it he is up against Villareal the eternal regional rival of Valencia these were his words "I grew up in Valencia and supported Villarreal and Valencia, they are the two teams in my city. I remember a lot of games I watched them and you think, 'I want one time to play for them.'"

Match Prediction and scoreline :

This will be a tricky one for Arteta as Villareal are a lethal team with G.Moreno who has had 20 league goals this season and is in red hot form, Arsenal without their players have not been lethal in front of the goal but players returning from the injury will not be sharp, Arsenal will have a calculated approach in the first leg and wait it out to close the tie at home in the second leg, but Villareal are expected to come at Arsenal and their ever fragile defensive set up. Though Arsenal may have possession but Villareal too play good attacking football and it will be interesting watch how does the team approach this game, personally i feel Villareal has the advantage and can win the game by 1-0 in a tactical battle of the first leg of Europa league.