Unai Emery says Arsenal have 3 ‘top quality’ players in their ranks, 2 could be gone in summer

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Arsenal trio Dani Ceballos, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka have been praised by Unai Emery, who has described them as “top quality”.

The Gunners will renew acquaintances with Mikel Arteta’s predecessor when they take on Villarreal away in Thursday night’s Europa League semi-final first leg.

Arsenal may have struggled in the Premier League but the Europa League has proven a different kettle of fish.

The Gunners cruised through the group stage and then saw off Benfica, Olympiacos and Slavia Prague in the knockout stages en route to the last four.

However, Villarreal have been just as impressive, remaining unbeaten in 12 games, winning 11 of those, and making light work of Salzburg, Dynamo Kiev and Dinamo Zagreb in the knockouts.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Emery claimed it would be a “very tough match” against an Arsenal side boasting top players and also quick players – Saka mentioned twice.

“They have a very marked identity and they show a lot of progress with Arteta,” he is quoted by football.london as saying.

“They have top quality players, Ceballos, Odegaard, Saka, quick players Aubameyang, Bukayo, Martinelli.

“They have a very solid defensive structure. They can do a passing structure. It’s going to be a very tough match.”

Of the players Emery deemed “top quality”, just Saka is on the books, with Ceballos and Odegaard on loan at the Emirates Stadium from Real Madrid.