The countdown is on for tonight’s Europa League semi-final clash between Arsenal and Villarreal at the Emirates, where one of the two will earn a place in the final.
Manchester United look extremely likely to be awaiting the winner of tonight’s matchup, having smashed their way to a 6-2 victory at Old Trafford last week.
With Manchester City and Chelsea also sealing their place in the Champions League final this week, Arsenal have the chance to complete the set tonight, which would mean that England have had all four finalists in two of the last three years. United reaching the final alone would still mean that each of England’s so-called top six have each made at least one final of the last three years regardless.
While the Red Devils can be calm ahead of their clash, Arsenal still have work to do.
We lost 2-1 in Spain last Thursday, in what was very-much a first-half to forget. Thankfully it was a game of two halves, and despite losing Dani Ceballos to a red card, we finished the 90 minutes strongly and got that all-important away goal.
This second-half performance could well give us the edge going into today’s clash, while Arsenal’s confident 2-0 win over Newcastle at the weekend can’t have hurt.
Villarreal also won at the weekend, albeit after a rocky game with Getafe which was settled by a late goal, which will definitely not have been the perfect preparation either.
I can’t help but feel confident that this game is set up for Arsenal, and will go as far as to say that we will win convincingly. The buzz at present has to be a big positive, and I’m expecting a scoreline to match.
I can feel a nice 3-0 win coming for our side, with Aubameyang getting on the scoresheet.
What are your early predictions? Any negative Nellies believe tonight will not go our way?
Patrick
Can’t be that optimistic about the result. Really nervous about the game.
I expect everything with this team
1 – 1
4-1
Nothing would surprise except Arsenal getting blown out. Gunners could win big, win close, tie or lose a close one. Anything is possible with Arteta and this crew….
I think you put in every permutations going there apart from the match being abandoned 😃
I feel a handsome win for us tonight
Let’s hope there isn’t a pitch invasion by marauding anti Kroenke demonstrators then!!!!
As a fan that doesn’t expect anything anymore from the club, but yet wish us as well…… I predict 3-1 in favor of Arsenal. Clean sheet is not an option though
Arsenal fans don’t have the bottle, always talking about this and that, look how the protests against Kronke fizzled out
1-0
This to go extra time.
Arsenal 2-1 Villareal
2 – 0 Arsenal
3-0 are you predicting or hoping? I predict an agonizing evening, I hope we go through. I do predict that if he plays Xhaka at left back we are in trouble. We all know though, Arteta is quite capable of throwing the game away by team selection.
I haven’t been more uptight about a game for yonks.
Heaven help Arteta if the team aren’t up for this match as I don’t want a repeat of Baku. Losing is one thing if you give your best and get beaten by a better team on the night, but to capitulate is unthinkable. Show some pride tonight please.
Stewart M above has summed up my feelings perfectly. Which Arsenal will turn up?
I don’t even feel like pulling the sofa out – good omen?! 😄 COYG
Hi Sue. We are winning this by 3:1.
Hey Skills 🙂 Auba to do the biz!!
Problem is that Arteta is a bottle job with no idea what his team is, he is negative, he hasn’t got a clue, no-one knows what his plan is including himself, if by some miracle we win the EL , he has to go and take the clown Edu with him. Arsenal have fallen so far behind that it will take years before we even attempt to challenge for the Title, and putting a novice like Arteta in charge shows how clueless the board and owners are. Look at Chelsea two great finals to look forward to, and they got rid of Lampard when they saw he wasn’t improving the team, and what a change they made. Arsenal no ambition and no clue stick with the scruffy face Arteta.
The said all-important away goal scored by Arsenal in their 2-t away loss to Villarreal during this season’s Europa League Cup 1st leg semifinal match between the duo club sides will afterall become all-important.
But if the Gunners build on that away goal that they’ve scored and put the Yellow Submarine to sword ibm tonight’s match by scoring at least thrice in the game with no any replies from the Yellow Submarine during this return 2nd Leg semifinal match that will take place at the Emirates Stadium.
Therefore, the Gunners have no any other choice on the table for then to choose other than the only choice of beating Villarreal convincingly in the match that is on the table for them to choose and take to execute it to the letter successfully for Arsenal if they want to see their Arsenal football club reach the Europa League Cup final this season.
If the Gunners truly want to see Arsenal FC their club side reach the ELC final this season, let them therefore embrace professionalism in it’s totality in their tonight’s home ELC 2nd leg semifinal match against the Yellow Submarine to eschew any showing of profligancy in front of Villarreal’s goalmouth throughout the entire duration of the match.
But convert the goals scoring chances they will create in the match into goals for Arsenal. And also be at alert to not be caught in any offside traps the Yellow Submarine could setup in the game to stop they the Gunners from scoring in the match.
While the Gunners are expected to convert the half chances they’ll get in the match into goals for Arsenal. They shouldn also be at alert too to capitalized on any goals scoring chances that accidentally fell to them in the game and convert them into goals for Arsenal.
And finally, the Gunners should be careful to avoid any of them being red carded in the match. Which will lead to them playing a Gunner down in the match. And they should also try as much as possible in the game to avoid being caught in the Yellow Submarine rotation fouling in the match. Which is intended by them as a ploy to slow down the Gunners offencing in the match.
Painful to read… Sentences too long without punctuation breaks
We are in the final in 45min. Though am very nervous right now, but I believe we are in the final.
Nervous about today’s match.
Hoping for 3-1.
But my mind says this is going to extra time and pens. Then it is a lottery.
Arsenal must win, i hope Arteta can give Gabriel a chance to play.
If only the team can start at a high intensity and score an early goal, it could demoralize Villarreal players just like our 2nd leg against Slavia Prague
I’ve never been more nervous in my life, my legs are shaking, my heart pounding so hard, I have this chilly feel down my spine, and I’m so terrified. Arsenal better win tonight.
Mr. Coach sir, this game to night is attacking , Counter attacking.and attacking for 90 minutes& injury time.
Any player who gives away the ball twice should be replaced.
No errors at the defence. Leno avoid short passes in the box. Please limit them . We need that cup. Let Martinell have adequate time in the 90 plus minutes. Leno should punch out corners because their tall players will be there for corner kicks. Please, please!!!!
Nervous though but, predicted it a 3: 0 win for us
If Arteta wants our team to reach finals then he must fill the following players in the pitch at once;Bernd Leno,Aubameyang ,laca ,xhaka ,Ordegard ,Tierney ,saka ,mari ,Luiz ,Chambers ,Pepe .
sent Arteta this team list with a keen warning to stick with it
——————LENO————-
Cedric—–Amari——Holding——-Tierney
————–Elneny——Partey———–
Saka—————–Smit————Martineli
Auba
we need youths in our attack
Yes I endorse this as the starting team because it is the attacking team that we have now
Mr.Coach also listen to useful comments tile these. We supporters have a big day at this critical point point
1-0 to us
🤞💕👍
Arsenal anyhow all the way. I see 3-0
XI vs Villarreal: Leno, Holding, Mari, Xhaka, Bellerin, Smith Rowe, Partey, Saka, Pepe, Aubameyang, Odegaard
Subs: Ryan, Okonkwo, Tierney, Gabriel, Lacazette, Willian, Cedric, Chambers, Nelson, Elneny, Nketiah, Martinelli