Arsenal take on La Liga side Villarreal in the penultimate round of the Europa League this season.
The Gunners have a very good record against the Yellow Submarine in Europe. We’ve faced them four times in the past and have won two and drawn two, which is a very impressive record. (Orbinho)
If history is anything to go by, Arsenal should be confident of going through. The Gunners, as a club, have happy memories of playing against Villarreal, and we also have one player who has had a memorable time against them.
Granit Xhaka faced Villarreal when he was with Borussia Monchengladbach back in 2014. It was only a group stage clash in the Europa League, but it was still a massive game for both sides.
Villarreal went 2-1 up in the 63rd minute and the pressure was on Gladbach. They had to find a way to get back in the game, and up stepped Xhaka with a goal that any player in the world would be proud of.
The Swiss international took a free-kick a long way from goal. The chances of the ball finding the back of the net looked extremely slim, but Xhaka stunned everyone at La Ceramica with an absolute stunner.
Granit Xhaka scored a stunner against Villarreal
Xhaka is yet to score in the Europa League for Arsenal this season. His only goal this term came against Chelsea on Boxing Day – a fairly similar strike to the one he scored against Villarreal over six years ago.
If the Swiss international can come up with something as special as the one above in two weeks time, he will give Arsenal’s chances of beating Villarreal a huge boost.
Personally as well for Xhaka, scoring against the manager that stripped him of his captaincy would feel really good.
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