Villarreal manager Unai Emery confident Nigeria's Chukwueze will dump his former side Arsenal out of the Europa League

FORMER Arsenal manager Unai Emery has sent a warning to his former club that Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze will prevent them from winning this year's Europa League as he is in dazzling form at the moment.

Mr Emery, who managed Arsenal between May 2018 and November 2019, is currently the head coach of Spanish side Villarreal, who have just qualified for the semi finals of the Europa League. Villarreal, who Chukwueze plays for, beat Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 on aggregate on Thursday night.

In the quarter finals, Dinamo Zagreb eliminated another north London team Tottenham Hotspurs and will now Face Arsenal in the semi finals. Arsenal themselves secured an impressive 4-0 away victory over Czech side Slavia Prague on Thursday to reach the Europa League semi-finals, qualifying 5-1 on aggregate.

In Villareal's last match, Chukuwueze provided an assist for one of their goals and was himself denied by the woodwork. He was arguably the best player on the pitch, hitting the frame of the goal twice in each half and only a great save prevented him from scoring in the closing minutes.

On May 6, Villarreal will hit the Emirates Stadium in London for the first leg of the semi finals and Mr Emery is confident that Chukwueze will do his team proud on the night. Mr Emery highlighted the influence of Chukwueze to the Villarreal squad and singled him out for special praise for his excellent display against Dinamo Zagreb.

He said : "We have found the individual contribution like Samu's today on the right wing, where he has found again situations of individual brilliance, which brought very good things to the team".

Arsenal had been in pole position to sign Chukwueze after he put himself in the shop window during the 2015 U17 World Cup, only for the deal to collapse at the last minute after the Gunners and Nigeria's Diamond Academy could not agree on the payment terms despite the winger passing a medical. Arsenal agreed a £1.5m transfer fee and the Nigerian club would have been paid £500,000 when he breaks into the first team plus an extra £500,000 when he makes his first appearance for the Super Eagles.