Arsenal Vs Valencia: Big-game mentality must return

Arsenal host Valencia in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday night. After a disastrous week, their big-game mentality and intensity must return.

Typically for Arsenal, they roll past the lesser teams and then shrink when the big ones come knocking. We can all recollect the relentless misery of trips to Anfield or Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford where the team has utterly crumbled, even after some promising form in which their attacking form has swept past anything and everything.

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But this season, it has been roles reversed. Yes, there was the 5-1 hammering at Liverpool, which was painfully reminiscent of the latter Arsene Wenger years. But predominantly, Unai Emery’s Gunners have been very good in the big games.

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Last week, though, they did not play any of the ‘big games’ — you could make an argument they were all bigger than any game of the season, but they do not catch the same profile as European or top-six matches. And they completely and utterly collapsed, losing three on the bounce and conceding nine goals in the process.

On Thursday night, the so-called big games return, with Arsenal hosting Valencia in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final, a game that has taken on a new importance with their recent collapse in the Premier League, meaning that Europe is now the likely path for Champions League qualification. Emery was certainly speaking before it as if this is one of the major contests of the year:

"“Now it’s the Europa League, it’s both a way to win a title and also a path into the Champions League. We want to treat this semi-final like something important. We need our supporters and we need to create a big atmosphere – we are very excited and with big enthusiasm for the match. We are looking forward to playing, to being with our supporters, to doing the first leg’s 90 minutes with a big performance and with a good result. But we know it’s going to be very difficult also. I think we need [it] all. We need the players, we need spirit, we need energy, we need our supporters.”"

The mentality and intensity that Arsenal played with in matches against Liverpool, Spurs, Manchester United, Chelsea and Napoli must now be replicated on Thursday night. I want to see the roaming, fist-pumping, celebration-roaring Emery rocket down the sidelines, the relentless pressing, the pedal-to-the-metal tackles, to see Arsenal play on the front foot with aggression and purpose.

Emery’s team cannot afford to play down to their opposition. And I think Emery himself recognises this. I think it is why he is protesting to the supporters to get behind the team, to bring spirit and atmosphere to what has been a much-infused Emirates this season. He wants his team to relish the challenge of the big game, as they have done consistently under his management.

The big-game mentality must return. Because if Arsenal play as they have done recently, they can wave goodbye to a Europa League final and Champions League qualification.