“Unai Emery is the most successful manager in Europa League,” says Mikel Arteta after setting up a semi-final with Villarreal

“Unai Emery is the most successful manager in Europa League,” says Mikel Arteta after setting up a semi-final with Villarreal

Arteta and Unai Emery

Arsenal secured a semi-finals spot in the Europa league, courtesy of a 4-0 thumping against Slavia Prague in the second leg of the quarter finals. Arteta’s side needed a win, after their 1-1 draw in London and his side came up trumps against Czech opponents.

The Arsenal boss says it will be ‘tough’ to beat Emery – who managed the Gunners before Freddie Ljungberg’s reign and his own arrival. Emery has previously won the Europa League three times with Sevilla, while also losing the 2018-19 final against Chelsea during his time at Arsenal, and Arteta is aware of the size of the task now facing his side over two legs.

Unai Emery was the manager who took Arsenal to the Europa Finals before Arteta arrived

“It will be really tough and Unai Emery is probably the most successful manager in this competition,” Arteta told BT Sport.

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“There is still a lot to do and things we can improve on, but we have a real desire to improve and be better every day.

“We started really well in a convincing way, aggressive in our high press. We looked a threat all the time. I really like the reaction of the team to the goal being disallowed. We scored some great goals, The clean sheet is important as well, the second one in two games.

“It helped the way we played against Sheffield United. The players were in high confidence, when performances are so high the collective improves. The boys were really at it from the start.“

“It is a really important win in a crucial moment. We won in a convincing way, so credit to the players.”

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