Trust the youngsters and take Tierney risk: How Arsenal should approach the semi-final second leg

Mikel Arteta

Trust the youngsters and take Tierney risk: How Arsenal should approach the semi-final second leg

The biggest night of the season is upon us.

Can a disappointing campaign on and off the field be salvaged with an appearance in a European final - or will Unai Emery return to the Emirates to have the last laugh?

The Champions League final will be an all-English affair and with Manchester United having one foot in the Europa League showpiece, Arsenal could ensure the Premier League takes sole representation at the top table.

To do so, they need to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit against Villarreal and put in a performance several levels above the one they produced in Spain last week.

So how should Mikel Arteta approach the defining night of his fledgling managerial career to date?

Trust the youngsters

Before Christmas, when Arsenal were languishing towards the bottom three in the Premier League, the performances of the club's promising youngsters in Europe provided just about the only glimmers of light.

They have since taken that confidence into domestic duty and the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli should be trusted to deliver on the big stage tonight.

Saka, in particular, looks tailor-made for occasions such as this while Smith Rowe has slotted effortlessly into the attacking midfield role in recent months.

We saw last night how much it meant to Mason Mount to fire Chelsea into the Champions League final - Arsenal's homegrown youngsters are more than capable of following suit.

Get the Partey started

For all the vibrancy of youth should be celebrated, European experience will be crucial this evening - and Thomas Partey has it in spades.

Having helped Atletico Madrid to the latter stages of the Champions League on several occasions during a successful spell in the Spanish capital, the midfielder knows what it takes to win knockout ties and now is the time for him to step up.

Partey's first season has dipped below expectations but tonight, against familiar La Liga opposition and with Dani Ceballos suspended, is a chance to start taking responsibility.

Take a risk on Tierney

The news Kieran Tierney returned to full training on Tuesday was a real boost to Arteta, who will hope the Scotland star proves his fitness ahead of kick-off.

Even if he's not 100% fit, Tierney has become such a vital part of the side that the Spaniard may be tempted to take a risk, with the remaining league games feeling essentially meaningless.

The left-back's potential return could allow Granit Xhaka to move to his preferred role in the centre of midfield and would bring much-needed balance to the starting XI.

On the other flank, Arteta has a dilemma when it comes to choosing between his compatriot Hector Bellerin and Calum Chambers.

Bellerin impressed against Newcastle on Sunday and offers more going forward than his right-back rival. With rumours swirling around the Spaniard's future, European success with the Gunners may convince him he is better off staying put in North London - and if he has decided deep down to head for pastures new, he will be desperate to go out on a high.

Whoever starts, a nerve-shredding evening feels all but guaranteed - we can only hope this latest ride on the Arsenal rollercoaster ends with a place in Gdansk in the bag.

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