Arsenal vs Villarreal: Details, team news, key stats & predicted lineup

Arsenal take on Villarreal in a do or die second leg encounter.

VILLARREAL, SPAIN - APRIL 29: Nicolas Pepe scores Arsenal's goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Europa League Semi-final First Leg match between Villareal CF and Arsenal at Estadio de la Ceramica on April 29, 2021 in Villarreal, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Europe remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal will play host to Villarreal on Thursday night in what is probably their biggest game of the season. The Gunners were poor in Spain last week when they lost to Villarreal 2-1 but Nicolas Pepe’s away goal gives Arsenal a lifeline going into this match.

Arsenal’s hopes of playing in Europe next season and chance to win some silverware all lie in this game. An aggregate win would ensure Arsenal qualify for their second Europa League final in three seasons.

Team News

David Luiz is ruled out of this game after he picked up an injury during Sunday’s 2-0 win at Newcastle while Dani Ceballos is suspended.

Kieran Tierney and Alexandre Lacazette have been pictured in training and could be named in the squad but it is unlikely that they’ll be named in the starting eleven.

Kieran Tierney in training.

Predicted Lineup

Arteta will have to attack from the first minute if Arsenal are to stand a chance, outscoring Villarreal is the only way of progressing on aggregate. But the Gunners have to be tight at the back as well because every goal Villarreal scores will make life more difficult.

Here is how we think Arsenal will lineup;

Predicted Arsenal lineup to face Villarreal

Key Stats

Arsenal have progressed from each of their last two European knockout ties where they lost the first leg (0-1 vs Bate Borisov in February 2019 and 1-3 vs Rennes in March 2019), they had progressed on only two of the previous 17 before that.

Arsenal are without a win in their last two home games in European competition (D1 L1), after winning 11 out of 13 before that, with the Gunners hoping to avoid going three on home soil without victory in Europe for the first time since September 2003.

Villarreal have progressed from 15 of their 16 two legged ties in major European competition when winning the first leg, the only exception was in the 2015-16 UEFA Europa League semi-final, when they went out to Liverpool despite winning the first leg.