Arsenal head into the first leg of their Europa League semi-final clash with Atletico Madrid knowing that the tournament remains the club's final route towards Champions League qualification next term.
Diego Simeone's men have won the competition twice already since its initial inception and will fancy their chances of a third, with either Marseille or Red Bull Salzburg awaiting the victor in the final.
Arsenal
© OffsideArsenal welcome Atletico on Thursday evening as the fallout from Arsene Wenger's looming departure continues to be debated in all corners of the sporting world.
Wenger will be facing his 125th different club at the Emirates this week as the Frenchman prepares to bring an end to a 22-year spell in charge at the Gunners, but to finish his term in glory the 68-year-old will need to get beyond a side that has already won two Europa League crowns.
On the pitch the response to Wenger's departure has been met with positivity. The Gunners shone late to dismantle West Ham United 4-1 over the weekend in the first game since the news was released by the club last Friday.
Much of the focus will be on Wenger during the final few games of the campaign, although the club's wider ambitions are largely woven into exactly how Wenger and his men fare in Europe this term.
Champions League qualification via the league is off the cards, leaving winning Europe's second-tier tournament as the only viable option of making it into the elite competition next season. Whoever does come in for the Frenchman, they will ultimately be at the mercy of what tournament the club are to feature in when it comes to attracting players during the summer window.
The Gunners are now appearing in their eighth semi-final in Europe and have managed to progress from six of their previous seven last-four ties. Arsenal have made light work of this tournament when going forward this year, bagging 29 goals in the cup so far from group stages to knockouts.
The Londoners also find themselves in some impressive home form of late, winning six games at the Emirates on the bounce. The Gunners have scored at least three goals in every one of those contests too.
The Wanda Metropolitano can often be a tough place to visit, especially during the second leg of a tie, leaving Wenger to try to find a lead to take to the Spanish capital. Arsenal's home form suggests that the Gunners are in a strong position, although they will be facing a side who possess plenty of tactical knowhow on European stages.
Recent form: LWWWLW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWDLW
Atletico Madrid
© SilverHubHaving won the tournament in 2010 and 2012, Simeone's side are back in the Europa League for the first time in five years.
That time away from the cup has been put to good use in the Champions League, where Atletico were able to reach two finals, as well as making the quarters and semis on two other occasions.
This season represents only the second time in eight terms that Atletico have been unable to move beyond the group stages in the Champions League. Since entering the Europa, Simeone's men have put together some efficient, if laborious, showings to make it into the last four.
Simeone's charges had to survive a late scare in the quarters when facing Sporting Lisbon. The Madrid club took a 2-0 lead into the second leg in Portugal, only to trudge towards a 1-0 defeat away from home.
Despite the defeat, Atletico have shown a clinical edge when moving forward. The club have notched 15 goals in their six Europa fixtures this term. The collection hands them the best goals-per-game average in the tournament.
Atletico's recent exploits on the continent have shaped a narrative that has touted the capital club as favourites over two legs against the Gunners, but in recent weeks Simeone's men have tended to struggle.
Across all competitions, Atletico have picked up just two victories in their last six games and are without a win in their last four away contests. The club's last outing on the road saw Los Colchoneros lose 3-0 to Real Sociedad.
Heading to London, Simeone is still to lose an away European match on English shores when coaching Atletico. The Spaniard beat and drew with Chelsea and was also held by Leicester City at the King Power in the Champions League.
Recent form: WDLWLD
Recent form (all competitions): LWDWLD
Team News
© OffsidePierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues to be cup tied, giving Alexandre Lacazette the reins up front as he aims to continue some promising goalscoring form.
Jack Wilshere and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are suffering with knocks and may struggle to start at the Emirates, while Petr Cech is suffering from an illness but will still be hoping to push for the number one spot.
Santi Cazorla and Mohamed Elneny are definite absences from the contest as they are both suffering with more serious, long-term injuries.
Koke, Antoine Griezmann and Diego Godin were rested in La Liga over the weekend, but they should all return to the starting XI on Thursday night.
Simeone claimed that Diego Costa had "no chance" of making the trip to London last week, but the former Chelsea frontman has been included in the squad that travelled to England.
Sime Vrsaljko should start at right-back in place of the injured Juanfran. Thomas Partey might just pip Gabi to featuring in centre midfield.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Ramsey, Xhaka; Welbeck, Wilshere, Ozil; Lacazette
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Vrsaljko, Savic, Godin, Hernandez; Correa, Partey, Niguez, Koke; Griezmann, Gameiro
Head To Head
This is the first time that the two clubs will be meeting competitively. Arsenal faced Atletico during a friendly in 2009 that the Gunners won 2-1 in the Emirates Cup.
Atletico have drawn 1-1 on each of their last two visits to England against Leicester and Chelsea in the Champions League. Madrid have won 10, drawn 11 and lost six in 27 matches against English sides.
Arsenal have managed to win just 10 of their 31 UEFA competition fixtures against Spanish teams, losing 14 of those. At home, however, the Gunners have won eight of their 14 encounters.
We say: Arsenal 1-1 Atletico Madrid
Arsenal head into a crucial home clash with some impressive form of late as they aim to take a lead to the Wanda Metropolitano next week.
Alongside Mkhitaryan, Arsenal also have the attacking talents of Mesut Ozil, who has played a part in five goals in seven starts against Simeone's men. The German international could be crucial in the opening tie having shone against CSKA Moscow.
As for the visitors, Atletico have not won an away game in all competitions since beating Lokomotiv Moscow 5-1 back in March. That said, Simeone has rested a number of key players lately and Madrid will be heading to London with a fresh squad renowned for their steel in the knockout stages of tournaments.
