Arsenal are gearing up for their most important game in years, as the Gunners prepare to host Atletico Madrid on Thursday in the first-leg of their Europa League semi-final showdown.
Arsene Wenger’s announcement that he will step down at the end of the season has added another dimension to the game, with the club now determined to send their long-serving Frenchman out on a high, but overcoming Diego Simeone’s side will be a tough task.
Fortunately, the Gunners have been handed a boost with the return of Henrikh Mkhitaryan to training- raising hopes that the Armenia international could feature on Thursday evening.
It’s highly unlikely that Mkhitaryan will start the match but the former Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund ace could provide a huge boost off the bench, potentially making his return for the first time following an injury sustained in the quarter-final victory over CSKA Moscow at the Emirates Stadium.
The January recruit has impressed since moving to north London, scoring two goals and providing five assists in 12 appearances across all competitions.
