Arsenal: 5 Atletico Madrid players who will cause them problems

From Diego Costa to Godin - here are the five players that will stop Arsenal reaching the Europa League final.

(Photo credit: REUTERS/JUAN MEDINA)

Crunch time for Wenger and Arsenal. The Gunners have to be perfect at the Wanda Metropolitano on Thursday, should they wish to seal the European trophy that had eluded their manager for the past 22 years. 

The Londoners were disappointing in the first leg, falling to take advantage of Sime Vrsaljko’s early sending-off in a 1-1 draw. Anyone of the following five players could make it a very long night in Madrid.

11. Diego Costa

(Photo credit: REUTERS/VINCENT WEST)

Struggling for fitness in the first leg, Diego Costa bristled on the Atletico bench. 

He is far from the bloated mess that abandoned Chelsea last Spring, taut and menacing under the manager who knows him best. 

The Spaniard has a blessed history against Arsenal and will fancy his chances of smashing through their rickety defence.

Previously he netted three goals in six games against the Gunners while playing for Chelsea.

2Koke

(Photo credit: REUTERS/JUAN MEDINA)

Spain has a platoon of celestial playmakers at its disposal; so it’s no wonder that Koke often goes unnoticed. 

Atletico's number eight is a simmering threat from set-pieces, able to hurt the Gunners from any position in the final third. 

He simply cannot be allowed to conduct passes from deep if Arsenal are to stay in this tie.

Koke has scored two goals in seven Europa League games this season and will make his 370th senior appearance on Thursday.

3Antoine Griezmann

(Photo credit: REUTERS/DYLAN MARTINEZ)

Antoine Griezmann was unimpressive at the start of the season.

Lingering rumours of a move to Manchester United appeared to distract the Frenchman, but he has burst into life at precisely the right time. 

Diminutive and whimsical, Laurent Koscielny will need no reminding of his compatriot's potency. One slip in concentration and Arsenal will be lethally punished. 

The Frenchman already has 27 goals and 13 assists this season. 

4Diego Godín

(Photo credit: REUTERS/JUAN MEDINA)

The gnarled Uruguayan has a legitimate claim to be the best defender in the world. 

He is the perfect embodiment of Diego Simeone's rasping regime and was magnificent in a towering performance in the first leg. 

Arsenal must somehow find a way around him, whilst at the same time trying to negate him at set pieces. Good luck with that one  

5Saúl

(Photo credit: REUTERS/DYLAN MARTINEZ)

£130 million. That’s all it would take for one of Europe’s super-clubs to prise Saúl Niguez away from the Wanda this summer. Given the trajectory of his improvement over the past two seasons, it might not be such a steep price to pay.

There’s not a lot Wenger can do to stop the Spaniard on Thursday. If he wants to turn and run at the Arsenal defenders, he will, and there is precious little to offset his accurate curling finishes into the top corner. 

The Gunners will, therefore, be hoping that he, like the rest of this glittering squad, will have an off night.