Henrikh Mkhitaryan believes Europa League specialist Unai Emery can lead Arsenal to glory in the competition this season. Emery lifted the trophy in three consecutive seasons with Sevilla between 2014 and 2016 and is now targeting similar success with the Gunners.
Arsenal started their Europa League campaign with a 4-2 win over Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava on Thursday night.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice, his second assisted by Mkhitaryan, while Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil were also on target at the Emirates Stadium.
Mkhitaryan, who won the competition with Manchester United in 2017, said: ‘He [Emery] has won this competition three times and it’s very important to us, for Arsenal, because we’re playing in this competition to win.
‘We’re not just playing to participate. It’s very important because if you win then you can get a spot in the Champions League, so we’re trying to win every game and we will see where we get to.’
Arsenal couldn’t afford to slip up against Vorskla with tougher group stages fixtures against Sporting Lisbon and Qarabag to come.
Meanwhile striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also has his sights set on Europa League glory after scoring twice on Thursday night.
‘I’m really happy to be back in this competition and we want to go to the final of course,’ he said.
‘I think we played well in the first half and the beginning of the second as well. We scored four goals.
‘We have to improve and try to fight, and not concede a goal like we did in the last minute.’
Asked specifically about Arsenal’s desire to win the tournament, he added: ‘Especially for me because I didn’t play last year in the Europa League with the guys. It’s good to start with a win, and the next game will be important also.’