Arsenal will be looking to come from behind and book a date in the final of the UEFA Europa League for the second time in three seasons when they face Villarreal in the second-leg of their semi-final showdown at the Emirates Stadium this evening, kick-off 8:00pm.
The Gunners, who got back to winning ways in the Premier League over the weekend, defeating Newcastle United 2-0 at St James' Park, enter this evening's clash with the La Liga outfit 2-1 down from the first-leg.
Goals inside the first half an hour from Manu Trigueros and Raul Albiol fired Unai Emery's side into a 2-0 lead, before the Gunners netted what could be prove to be a crucial away goal through Nicolas Pepe, who made it 2-1 from the penalty spot with 17 minutes remaining.
Although Pepe's cool finish from the spot has given Arsenal a helping hand in their hopes of turning the tie on its head, a huge challenge still faces them, as an away-goal for Villarreal would make things interesting to say the very least.
In the last two knockout rounds of the Europa League, Arsenal have had to rely on their performances in the away legs to get the job done, losing at home to Olympiacos in the last-16 and then being held to a 1-1 draw by Slavia Prague in the quarter-finals.
With the clash with Villarreal presenting no second chances, manager Mikel Arteta knows his side have to change their fortunes on their own patch and get it right.
Speaking at his pre-match press call on Wednesday, Arteta said: "Time to change it. We have to embrace the challenge, the opportunity we have ahead.
"I think it’s only the tenth time the club has been in a European semi-final so it doesn’t happen very often.
"We have to take the opportunity tomorrow and earn the right to be in the final."
After recent events off the pitch, concerning both the European Super League debacle and protests against owner Stan Kroenke, Arteta knows just how big a match this evening's is.
"It’s a massive game for everybody, but in particular for the club because we are here representing the football club and our fans," Arteta added.
"What we want to do is do it the best way winning trophies. If we win tomorrow, we will be much closer to get a trophy and this is the only aim and the purpose why we are here."
For a game of such importance, Arteta will be relieved to have had both Kieran Tierney and Alexandre Lacazette involved in first-team training on Tuesday. The duo have been sidelined recently through injury issues but are closing in on returns.
When pushed on what the latest was on the injury front, Arteta didn't rule either of them out of the contest, insisting patience would be required.
He said: "We will see today [Wednesday]. We are training this afternoon. We will see today how everybody is."
Should the duo be fit and available for selection, it would be a significant boost for the Gunners as they look to try and overturn the one-goal deficit in their search for a place in the final.
Meanwhile, Arteta refused to rule out the prospect of David Luiz being involved, despite suffering a hamstring problem against Newcastle.
The Spaniard said: “With David it’s always possible because he wants to be available.
"He’s made an incredible effort to be in the position that he’s in today and the fact that he played against Newcastle was already a big bonus.
"He had surgery on his knee so with David, you never know.”
Amongst those who will be pushing for starting berths following the win at Newcastle on Sunday will be the likes of Thomas Partey, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Nicolas Pepe, all of whom were amongst the substitutes on Tyneside.
Elsewhere, Dani Ceballos will miss out through suspension.
Full Arsenal squad available to face Villarreal:
Goalkeepers: Bernd Leno, Mat Ryan, Runar Runarsson, Karl Hein & Arthur Okonkwo.
Defenders: Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers, Cedric Soares, Gabriel Magalhaes, Rob Holding, David Luiz (if fit), Pablo Mari & Kieran Tierney.
Midfielders: Willian, Nicolas Pepe, Bukayo Saka, Reiss Nelson, Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey, Ben Cottrell, Mohamed Elneny, Martin Odegaard, Miguel Azeez & Emile Smith Rowe.
Strikers: Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli & Folarin Balogun.
