Villarreal boss Unai Emery has revealed the reasons why he believes that Arsenal are favourites in the UEFA Europa League semi-final second-leg on Thursday. The Gunners host the Spaniards and indeed their former manager at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday, looking to turn around a 2-1 first-leg deficit.
Goals from Manu Trigueros and Raul Albiol saw Villarreal run out victors in Spain.
Nicolas Pepe scored a late but potentially crucial away goal late on with both teams getting reduced to ten men after Dani Ceballos and Etienne Capoue were both sent off.
Having been in charge of the Gunners for a year-and-a-half, Emery has revealed why he believes that they are favourites heading into the second-leg despite that aforementioned victory for his side last week.
He said: “I consider the first leg result does not change how I see the initial competition.
“Arsenal started as a favourites and they are still favourites at this stage.
Unai Emery believes Arsenal are favourites on Thursday despite his side holding a 2-1 advantage (Image: GETTY)
"We are candidates to be able to play against this kind of teams and we'll try to compete against this kind of team, those favourite teams but the first-leg result is really narrow to make anything change.
“Why? Because of history, because of the present, because of the ability and the level from the budget to the players that they have in this squad. I consider them as favourites.
“We are the underdogs but our team has been acknowledged in Europe. We have certain recognition and have been showing our level for years.
“We have played a semi-final of the Champions League.
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Raul Albiol celebrates his strike against the Gunners in the firs-leg (Image: GETTY)