Unai Emery has declared he wants to leave his mark on Arsenal history by winning a European trophy as he plots a return to the Europa League Final.
Claiming the second-tier trophy is now essentially the Gunners' only route back to the Champions League next season as a late collapse in form means they need a final-day miracle to qualify as one of the Premier League's top four.
But the Spaniard, who won this trophy three seasons in a row with Sevilla after coaching the Gunners' Thursday opponents Valencia, said silverware should be the motivation for top teams.
He also pointed out that the only two European competitions Arsenal have won don't exist any more!
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Before defending a 3-1 first leg lead in his homeland on Thursday, he said: “At any club like Arsenal or Valencia, titles have to be objectives in themselves. Arsenal only have two European titles in their history: the old Fairs Cup (1970) and the Cup-Winners Cup (1994) , neither of which exist, so I have a lot of ambition to win a title.
“When I was here at Valencia, the primary objective was to get a Champions League place. But when I went to Sevilla, the president said, ‘Have you been in a final?’ I said, 'No.' He said, 'You’ll see what that is like.’
“At Sevilla, that was what motivated us — that feeling of being about to play in a final. For Sevilla, that was bigger than getting a Champions League place. I feel pleased to have achieved the objective at Valencia – a Champions League place – and at Sevilla, which was to win titles.
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"I feel privileged to have done both, to have that experience, and at Arsenal I want to bring all of that. I give this title a huge value, as a title.”
Valencia beat Arsenal on penalties in the 1980 Cup-Winners' Cup Final, and more recently they have won their last eight Europa League home games.
The Gunners, beaten by Atletico Madrid at this stage last season, came from behind to win the home leg last week. But Liverpool's staggering Champions League comeback to knock out Barcelona — and Barcelona's 6-1 victory over Emery's Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, having lost 4-0 in the French capital — are reminders that the tie is far from over.
“It will be very difficult here and we can take some examples — not only yesterday but also in the past,” Emery said.
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The former Valencia boss is sure of a hot reception from their fans, after celebrating wildly on the touchline here when his Sevilla side won a semi-final of this competition with a last-minute goal five years ago.
“I have come back many times, and each match is special,” he claimed.
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin returns for the hosts after he was suspended in London.
"I was angry to miss the first leg,” said the Frenchman. “I’m even more motivated to play well now.”
PROBABLE TEAMS
VALENCIA Neto; Piccini, Gabriel, Garay, Gaya; Soler, Coquelin, Parejo, Guedes; Rodrigo, Gameiro.
ARSENAL Cech; Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Torreira, Xhaka, Kolasinac; Ozil; Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
