Villarreal
Europa League
Semi-finals
Thu , Apr 29 , 2021 21:00
2 - 1
Arsenal
Villarreal
Arsenal
2 - 1
Villarreal host Arsenal at the Estadio de la Ceramica (Villareal) in the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals and the match kicks off at 8 pm (UK) on Thursday, April 29. Read our reasons for Villarreal vs Arsenal prediction and betting tips.
Villarreal are making their third appearance at the Europa League semi-finals since 2010/11 but failed to make the final on both previous occasions. Unai Emery lifted this trophy three times when in charge of Sevilla and took Arsenal to the final a couple of years ago, so we can be sure he will have Villarreal fired up against his former club. Meanwhile, Arsenal are pursuing their second Europa League final across the last three seasons. However, Arsenal have struggled in the Premier League this season, sitting only in 10th, and their results in the knockout rounds of this tournament have been mixed.
The Yellow Submarines only dropped two points in Group I and have secured six consecutive victories during the knockout rounds. RB Salzburg were beaten 4-1 on aggregate and Dynamo Kyiv 4-0, before 1-0 and 2-1 wins saw off Tottenham’s conquerors Dinamo Zagreb. Emery has put together another typically dogged outfit, packed full of proven veterans, and has a couple of world-class strikers in Gerard Moreno and Paco Alcacer.
Emery lifted this trophy three times when in charge of Sevilla and took Arsenal to the final a couple of years ago when they lost out to Chelsea. He has put together another typically dogged outfit, packed full of proven veterans still willing and able to put in a full-blooded shift on a regular basis. They are a solid seventh in La Liga and look well placed to continue Spain’s excellent record in this competition. Booking a place in the final will depend on making home advantage count. They don’t want to go to London needing the win.
As for the visitors, Arsenal booked their slot in the last four of the Europa League by beating Slavia Prague 5-1 on aggregate in the quarters. They did their best work in the second leg after scraping a 1-1 draw at the Emirates. The Gunners blasted Slavia, winning 4-0 on the road in a polished outing. After making light work of a sorry Slavia Prague, Arsenal returned to Premier League, where their troubles this season continued. They drew 1-1 at home to league strugglers Fulham before losing 1-0 at home to Everton on Friday night after Leno knocked the ball into his own net.
Arteta’s free-flowing style of football always offers a goal threat up front, but his side can be overrun in midfield and fragile at the back. Their next opponents have the ability to expose such weaknesses, and Arsenal must keep things tight at the back in Spain if they want to remain competitive in this semi-final. The visitors are capable of scoring goals but have been fragile in defence of late. That’s something the away team know they can’t get away with at this level and so late in the competition.
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Villarreal meet Arsenal for the fifth time in European competition, with the previous four games taking place in the Champions League (semi-finals in 2005-06 and quarter-finals in 2008-09) and the hosts are yet to beat the Gunners (D2, L2).
Unai Emery is a master of the Europa League and he'd like nothing more than to get one over his former employers. Considering Villarreal's superb record in the competition so far, a home win is likely, but Arsenal are unbeaten in seven on the road and could nick an away goal here.
BettingKick’s Villarreal vs Arsenal prediction is: Both teams to score
4-4-2
4-2-3-1
Villarreal
Arsenal
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26.10.2024. | Valladolid | VS | Villarreal | 1-2 |
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20.10.2024. | Villarreal | VS | Getafe | 1-1 |
D
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15.12.2024. | Villarreal | VS | Betis | 1-2 |
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01.12.2024. | Villarreal | VS | Girona | 2-2 |
D
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09.11.2024. | Villarreal | VS | Alaves | 3-0 |
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02.11.2024. | Villarreal | VS | Rayo Vallecano | 1-1 |
D
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20.10.2024. | Villarreal | VS | Getafe | 1-1 |
D
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30.09.2024. | Villarreal | VS | Las Palmas | 3-1 |
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22.09.2024. | Villarreal | VS | Barcelona | 1-5 |
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26.08.2024. | Villarreal | VS | Celta | 4-3 |
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19.08.2024. | Villarreal | VS | Atletico Madrid | 2-2 |
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20.07.2024. | Villarreal | VS | Leicester | 1-2 |
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08.12.2024. | Athletic Bilbao | VS | Villarreal | 2-0 |
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04.12.2024. | Pontevedra | VS | Villarreal | 1-0 |
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24.11.2024. | Osasuna | VS | Villarreal | 2-2 |
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29.10.2024. | Poblense | VS | Villarreal | 1-6 |
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26.10.2024. | Valladolid | VS | Villarreal | 1-2 |
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05.10.2024. | Real Madrid | VS | Villarreal | 2-0 |
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26.09.2024. | Espanyol | VS | Villarreal | 1-2 |
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14.09.2024. | Mallorca | VS | Villarreal | 1-2 |
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31.08.2024. | Valencia | VS | Villarreal | 1-1 |
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23.08.2024. | Sevilla | VS | Villarreal | 1-2 |
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18.12.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Crystal Palace | 3-2 |
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14.12.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Everton | 0-0 |
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11.12.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Monaco | 3-0 |
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08.12.2024. | Fulham | VS | Arsenal | 1-1 |
D
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04.12.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Manchester United | 2-0 |
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30.11.2024. | West Ham | VS | Arsenal | 2-5 |
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26.11.2024. | Sporting CP | VS | Arsenal | 1-5 |
W
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23.11.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Nottingham Forest | 3-0 |
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10.11.2024. | Chelsea | VS | Arsenal | 1-1 |
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06.11.2024. | Inter | VS | Arsenal | 1-0 |
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18.12.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Crystal Palace | 3-2 |
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14.12.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Everton | 0-0 |
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11.12.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Monaco | 3-0 |
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04.12.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Manchester United | 2-0 |
W
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23.11.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Nottingham Forest | 3-0 |
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27.10.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Liverpool | 2-2 |
D
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22.10.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Shakhtar Donetsk | 1-0 |
W
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05.10.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Southampton | 3-1 |
W
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01.10.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Paris Saint Germain | 2-0 |
W
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28.09.2024. | Arsenal | VS | Leicester | 4-2 |
W
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08.12.2024. | Fulham | VS | Arsenal | 1-1 |
D
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30.11.2024. | West Ham | VS | Arsenal | 2-5 |
W
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26.11.2024. | Sporting CP | VS | Arsenal | 1-5 |
W
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10.11.2024. | Chelsea | VS | Arsenal | 1-1 |
D
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06.11.2024. | Inter | VS | Arsenal | 1-0 |
L
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02.11.2024. | Newcastle | VS | Arsenal | 1-0 |
L
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30.10.2024. | Preston | VS | Arsenal | 0-3 |
W
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19.10.2024. | Bournemouth | VS | Arsenal | 2-0 |
L
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22.09.2024. | Manchester City | VS | Arsenal | 2-2 |
D
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19.09.2024. | Atalanta | VS | Arsenal | 0-0 |
D
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Tucker grew up in London, more precisely in West London. But, unlike many locals, he doesn’t like big and famous teams from that part of the city. Instead, ever since he was a kid, Tucker was passionate for lower divisions. This passion was born when his uncle from Reading took him to the local derby with Aldershot Town when he was 6 and since that moment football was running through his veins. He became a huge fan of the Royals for life, and whenever he could, he goes to Madejski Stadium to enjoy the game. Apart from being a job, his sports knowledge also becomes more than useful when he is betting live on high stakes which is also his passion.