Press conference

Arteta - We have to embrace the challenge

"It's time to change the tie."

That was Mikel Arteta's rallying call ahead of Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg against Villarreal.

We're a goal behind on aggregate after finishing last week's game in Spain with 10 men, and our manager knows just how important this game is in the long and short-term.

"It's a massive game for everybody but in particular for the club because we are here representing a football club and our fans," he said. "What we want to do is to do it in the best way by winning trophies. If we win tomorrow, we will be much closer to getting another trophy. This is the only aim and the purpose of us being here.

"We have to embrace the challenge and the opportunity we have ahead. I think it's the 10th time that the club has been in a European semi-final, so it doesn't happen very often. We have to take the opportunity tomorrow and earn the right to be in the final.

"It's a big moment. Not for me, but for the club and for everything that has happened in the last two years and the last months. All the instability that we've been living with for many different reasons. So I think it will be really important and a big step forward if we are able to be in that final and have the opportunity to win that trophy."

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