Mikel Arteta says Arsenal will make the ‘biggest step forward’ should they overcome a 2-1 deficit against Villarreal.
Arteta believes Europa League semis qualification will be Arsenal’s season’s biggest step. Arsenal takes Spanish outfit Villarreal in the Europa League a must-win tie at Emirates stadium.
After seeing his side suffers a 2-1 defeat at Spain, Arteta size his chances as the biggest step forward.
“It’s a big moment,” Arteta said.
“Not for me but for the club. For everything that has happened in the last two years, in the last months,” he added.
“I think it will be really important and our biggest step forward. If we are able to be in that final and have the opportunity to win that trophy,” the Spaniard said.
Being in the finals is the only chance for the Gunners to claim the UEFA Champions League finals. However, Arteta admits things have been rough for the London outfit.
“It is not what we want but there are a lot of things that have happened in that period for many reasons.
“One is because the level is being raised to a standard that is unprecedented in this league. And we are not the only club that has been out of that,” Arteta said.
“But obviously no one accepts that situation. And we want to change it straight away and this season we still have the opportunity to do that,” he added.
Defender Kieran Tierney could make a return to the side for the first time since suffering a knee injury in the defeat to Liverpool in early April.
Alexandre Lacazette is also in contention after overcoming a hamstring issue, but center-back David Luiz (hamstring) is unlikely to feature.
Meanwhile, Unia Emery cautious his side that Arsenal’s forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a ‘killer’.
“Aubameyang is a killer. He was, he is and he will always be,” he Emery.