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Arsenal Vs Atetico Madrid: 5 key players to watch — Stage is set

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates scoring his side's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on January 20, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates scoring his side's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on January 20, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette /

Arsenal host Atletico Madrid on Thursday night in the semi-finals of the Europa League where the stage is very much set. Here are five key players to watch.

The semi-finals of the Europa League are here. Arsenal host Atletico Madrid in the first leg on Thursday night, and it is a game that they must win if they want to both win a trophy this year and qualify for next season’s Champions League. Crucial, then, for the Gunners to perform close to the best of their inconsistent ability.

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So, with that in mind, here are five key players to watch ahead of the first leg of critical Europa League semi-final.

Arsenal, Danny Welbeck
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 08: Danny Welbeck of Arsenal and Oriol Romeu of Southampton in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Southampton at Emirates Stadium on April 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

5. Danny Welbeck

These are the type of games that Sir Alex Ferguson used to love Danny Welbeck in. The big European ties against a stifling defence where legs, energy and a relentless work rate is essential, all thing that Welbeck brings in plentiful supply.

While he may not have the top-tier, cutting-edge quality that many believe he should have — he may be tidy in possession with a soft and subtle touch, but his end product is certainly wayward, especially in the finishing department –, he is a willing worker in these type of games, as evidenced by his performance in the two legs against AC Milan earlier in the competition.

Getting in behind Atletico will be difficult. They are more than happy to sit deep and compact the space, not allowing their opponents chances to slide into the channels and turn the central defenders. That is very much what Welbeck’s game is about. But there is hope. Arsenal have the chance to play on the front foot, press high up the pitch, and suffocate this Atletico team. And that is Welbeck’s MO.