Mikel Arteta and his players know exactly what they have to do to reach the Europa League final.
A 1-0 win would be enough to set up a mouthwatering tie most with the opponents in Gdansk likely to be fellow Premier League side Manchester United.
"We have to embrace the challenge and the opportunity we have ahead," Arteta said ahead of the game.
"I think it's the 10th time that 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.
"It's a big moment. Not for me, but for the club and for everything that has happened in the last two years and the last months. All the instability that we've been living with for many different reasons. So I think it will be really important and a big step forward if we are able to be in that final and have the opportunity to win that trophy."
Villarreal and Unai Emery stand in the way of that all-English final and will be looking to come away from north London with a positive result.
With several players making a timely return to full training, Arteta has big decisions on his hands where team selection is concerned.
football.london takes a look at three risks the Spaniard must take to ensure Arsenal have the best chance of winning on Thursday night.
Return of Tierney
The Scottish left-back has had a couple of training sessions under his belt ahead of the game and it's vital he starts against Villarreal.
Granit Xhaka has filled in excellently over the past few games, but it's not his natural position and his central midfield qualities are being wasted there.
Gunners legend Ian Wright suggested Portuguese right-back Cedric Soares would be better placed to feature on the left.
"Ideally for me, you play Cedric Soares at left-back and put Xhaka back in midfield because he can keep the ball safe and give that pass that we need," Wright told Ringer FC’s Wrighty’s House podcast.
"It does not make me comfortable seeing Xhaka at left-back. It’s not his thing, that’s not where he should be.
"Cedric was bought and signed for four years to play at either right or left, play him! Play Xhaka where he should play and then it’s out of Saka or Pepe to be on that side."
Thursday night's match is by far Arsenal's most important game of the season so far, which means starting Tierney is a risk Arteta will surely be prepared to take.
Play Saka, Smith Rowe and Pepe in attack
When Arsenal beat Benfica in Greece they featured a four-pronged attack which included Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up top.
Nicolas Pepe has been the Gunners' most consistent player in the Europa League this season, and is the only player to reach double figures for combined goals and assists in the competition.
It would make sense to put Pepe in the team over Odegaard as he offers a direct attacking threat from the flanks that Arsenal will need against Villarreal, with Aubameyang continuing to lead the line after his impressive goal against Newcastle.
Arteta's side may only need one goal to go through, but fielding the most fluid attack possible will give Arsenal the best chance of reaching the final in Gdansk.
Make early subs if it's not working
One criticism levelled at Arteta this season has been his reluctance to make substitutions when needed.
An example of that could be seen in the first leg against Villarreal, where fans and pundits alike were calling for Dani Ceballos to be replaced in the second half before he inevitably received a second yellow card shortly after the break.
Gabriel Martinelli, Alexandre Lacazette and Odegaard are all potential options to come off the bench if things aren't working in the first half.
Those are exciting attacking options that most European sides would be envious of, so it's crucial that they are brought into the fray sooner rather than later to ensure Arsenal have the best possible chance of qualifying for the final.
