Arsenal boss Unai Emery believes the Europa League has improved a lot as a competition since he first competed in it with Valencia.
The Gunners thrashed Valencia 4-2 at the Mestalla on Thursday night and reached the Europa League final with an aggregate scoreline of 7-3 over two legs of the semi-final tie.
Arsenal are in with no chance to finish in the Premier League top four, but winning the Europa League will put them in the Champions League hat for next season.
Emery admits that it is a big opportunity for his Arsenal side to reach Europe’s top table, but he also believes that the Europa League as a competition has also improved over the last few years.
The Arsenal manager feels it has become a good competition for teams who are not in the Champions League but are prepared to do achieve something in Europe.
Emery said in a press conference: “We have two possibilities to qualify [for the Champions League]. One we lost.
“The second is the Europa League here. I think the Europa League improve a lot. I started playing in the Europa League with Valencia eight to ten years ago. It was different. Very different.
“I think now it is a good competition for teams who cannot play in the Champions League.
"Our objective is to go to the Champions League but also it is one title.
“I think matches like today with this atmosphere are amazing. Every player, every club wants to play in it.”
Manchester United reached the Champions League in 2016 by winning the Europa League despite finishing sixth in the Premier League.
