Coming into the game on the back of three straight defeats, the Europa League could well be the perfect distraction for Arsenal and their manager Unai Emery at the minute.
After suffering a 3-0 hammering at Leicester City on Sunday afternoon, the Gunners’ top four hopes are now hanging by a thread, with the Europa League potentially being the only route into next season's Champions League for Emery's side.
Booking their place in the last four with a 3-0 aggregate win over Napoli in the quarter-finals, the Gunners face a Valencia side which confirmed their passage into the semi-finals with a 5-1 aggregate victory over Villareal.
But despite their poor run of form, pundits are still predicting an Arsenal win at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow night (Thursday).
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Michael Owen (Arsenal win) - BetVictor
"Arsenal boss Unai Emery was Valencia coach for four seasons until 2012 and this is the fifth time that the Spaniard has reached the last four of the Europa League.
"I feel the hosts will take a lead back to Spain for the second leg despite another poor performance on the road at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.
"Valencia have lost their last two La Liga games including a home loss to Eibar at the weekend. Arsenal may have also lost their last home game – Palace in the Premier League – but they are a formidable side at the Emirates and I will disappointed if they don’t take a lead to the Mestalla next Thursday.
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Charlie Nicholas (Arsenal 3-1 Valencia) - Sky Sports
"What's happened at Arsenal of late is really troubling. They got beat at home by Crystal Palace but what is Unai Emery's best scenario? Valencia sometimes play one up front and Goncalo Guedes is the main threat, while against Celtic, Dani Parejo was the danger man - he can pick a pass and open Arsenal up.
"Emery knows Valencia aren't going to be overly physical do Arsenal need to play with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette closer together with Mesut Ozil back in. These are the types of games which Ozil can really do something in. Thursday may, finally, just be Ozil's night.
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