The one huge advantage Arsenal have in the Europa League
The final four teams in the Europa League all have solid chances of lifting the trophy in Baku on Wednesday 29th May but we have one huge advantage over our rivals and that is none other than our manager Unai Emery.
That man is a phenomenon in this competition he has won it no less than three times and has now won 26 matches knockout stages, more than any other manager.
And remember, those three wins were all won consecutively.
Emery just knows how to manipulate the competition, he knows what is required to win and at no stage have we looked vulnerable, well, apart from the Rennes tie.
He knows Valencia very well, he managed them for three seasons taking them to 6th 3rd and 3rd in La Liga and that despite the club being in the midst of the worst financial crisis in their history.
We could not ask for a better manager when it comes to facing Valencia and Los Che will know that as well.
Emery’s experience in both the Europa League and of managing Valencia will be invaluable, and you can take it to the bank that he will use his entire knowledge of our semi-final opponents to full advantage and that will give us a significant edge.
Emery has come in for some criticism this season but he has the best Arsenal record of any manager in their first 50 games in charge with a 64% win record, he has got us to the semi’s of the Europa League and top-four so far in the Premier League and all this while being restricted financially in the transfer market.
Yes, any of the last four in the Europa League can win it, that goes without saying but none of them has a weapon as potent as Unai Emery and as a fanatical Gooner I cannot be any more pleased.