Arsenal vs Villarreal - Europa League team news and prediction

It's last chance saloon as far as Arsenal's season is concerned on Thursday night, who are out of every other competition and could even finish in the bottom half of the table in the Premier League. Standing in their way of the Europa League final is Villarreal and their former manager Unai Emery. Unfortunately for the Gunners, Emery is the most successful ever manager in this competition with a hat-trick of wins and another place in the final during his time in charge of Arsenal.

Ahead of Thursday's semi-final second leg we have all your need-to-know matchday information in one place, including team news, probable XIs, predicted scorelines and where to watch the game.

When is kick off?
Thursday 6th May, 20:00 GMT
Where is the match?
Emirates Stadium, London (England)
What TV channel is it on?
BT Sport 2

First-Leg Recap

Villarreal should have really been out of sight from the first leg after sailing to a 2-0 lead in 30 minutes and watching Arsenal go down to 10 men before the hour mark. But Arsenal battled back, to their credit, and managed to grab a crucial away goal heading into the second leg. Only trailing 2-1, some would say Arsenal are actually favourites with home advantage on Thursday. However, Villarreal have won 12 of their 13 matches in the Europa League this season and Arsenal will need to become the first side to beat them in order to have a chance of going through.

Team News

Arsenal were recently boosted by the return of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and should have Kieran Tierney and Alexandre Lacazette available on Thursday as well. David Luiz is likely to miss out but Mikel Arteta certainly has a strong squad to pick from for the second leg. Dani Ceballos is suspended after his red card last week and Granit Xhaka could return to midfield if Tierney is fit to start.

Villarreal have former Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue missing after his red card last week, which could pave the way for ex-Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin to start against his former club. Paco Alcacer came off injured in the first leg but surprisingly started Villarreal's league match at the weekend, so it wouldn't be a surprise if Carlos Bacca came in for him here. Mario Gapsar is on standby to deputise for Tottenham loanee Juan Foyth, who is an injury concern from the first leg.

Probable XIs

Arsenal (4231): Leno; Chambers, Holding, Gabriel, Xhaka; Partey, Elneny; Pepe, Smith Rowe, Saka; Aubameyang

Villarreal (442): Rulli; Gaspar, Albiol, Torres, Pedraza; Chukwueze, Parejo, Coquelin, Trigueros; Bacca, Moreno

Key Battle: Nicolas Pepe vs Gerard Moreno

Nicolas Pepe hasn't really ever hit top form in the Premier League for Arsenal but their club-record signing has really been on it for the Europa League this season. The 25-year-old is the only player in the Europa League this season to reach 10 goal involvements (six goals, four assists), four more than he has managed from 14 fewer appearances in the Premier League. Pepe is the top rated player in the Europa League this season and gave Arsenal a fighting chance in the tie with a penalty in the first leg.

Gerard Moreno has been a revelation for Villarreal this season, arguably one of the best players in Spain. The 29-year-old has played a direct hand in 25 goals in 29 league games this season and has scored or assisted nine goals in 10 appearances in the Europa League. Indeed, Moreno has played a direct hand in a goal in each of his last seven appearances in the competition after providing an assist in the first leg.

Scoreline Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Villarreal