Unai Emery will have the chance to get one over his former side as Villarreal face Arsenal in the Europa League semi-final.
The first leg will be played at Estadio de la Cerámica in Spain on Thursday and before that, Villarreal manager Unai Emery has made it clear he’s well aware of how much of a threat his former side poses under Mikel Arteta.
He told the press on Monday: “[Mikel] Arteta is putting his own stamp on things – in the way they play, it’s easy to identify he’s bringing back that Arsenal tradition of playing attractive football.
“His first steps as Pep Guardiola’s assistant have helped him to position himself in this new profession which is being the manager. Now he has been given this opportunity at Arsenal, and I think it’s a good place to develop because he is much loved by Arsenal thanks to the time he spent in the team.
“He had his time [playing] there with Arsène Wenger so I’m sure he can apply everything he learned. I think it’s a good marriage: Arteta-Arsenal, Arsenal-Arteta.
“When Arsenal are in form, they are a top team. We’ve seen that this season. But so are we when we find our form.
“So in terms of confidence, the demands, the respect we have for the opponent, this semi-final will be full of tension and both teams will do their utmost to get through, which is what makes this competition such a great one.”
Whenever Arsenal find their paces, they look a really dangerous side no doubt. But the real problem is that no one really knows which Gunners team will end up taking the pitch on a given matchday.
Sometimes, the North London side blow away their competitors with some really great attacking football but more often than not, they are found wanting. And Unai Emery will be hoping that his Villarreal players can catch his former side on an off day.
Villarreal are yet to beat Arsenal in European competitions, losing two and drawing two matches to date but Arsenal have not won against the Spanish side away from home.
Mikel Arteta will be without some really important players for the first leg while his team go into this game having won just one out of their previous five league matches. So naturally, the Arsenal manager will be the more worried of the two bosses, especially since a failure to win the Europa League this season will mean that the North London club will be without European football next campaign.
