Arsenal are Europa League favourites, claims Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler

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Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler believes Arsenal are favourites to win the Europa League and give Arsene Wenger the perfect send-off.

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has surprisingly named Arsenal as the favourites to win the Europa League this season.

This is despite the Gunners facing a daunting two-legged semi-final clash against Atletico Madrid, who have far more pedigree in European competitions in recent times.

Diego Simeone guided the club to glory in the Europa League back in the 2011/12 season, and also reached two Champions League finals in 2013/14 and 2015/16.

With world class players such as Antoine Griezmann, Saul Niguez and Jan Oblak to contend with, this Arsenal side, one of the weakest of Arsene Wenger’s reign, would surely not be seen by most as the favourites to even make the final, let alone then win it against strong potential finalists in Marseille or Red Bull Salzburg.

Wenger, by contrast, has never truly cracked it at this level, reaching the Champions League final just once in his long reign with Arsenal, and going as far as the semi-finals on just one other occasion.

Still, Fowler believes Arsenal can do it and give Wenger the perfect send-off he deserves after the Frenchman’s recent decision to step down as manager after 22 years when this season comes to an end.

“He could also win the ­Europa League, getting the club back in the ­Champions League. It is a real ­possibility – in fact they are favourites,” Fowler wrote in his column in the Daily Mirror.

“If he wins the Europa League and sets the club up for a return to the Champions League then it would be the perfect end.

“And it would also mean a truly great, deserved ­reputation isn’t ­tarnished in any way. He would go with the respect he ­deserves.”

Fowler has tasted Europa League success firsthand, winning the competition in its old form of the UEFA Cup with Liverpool back in 2001.

Arsenal will play the first leg at home this Thursday (26th April), and a clean sheet will be essential if the Gunners are to progress all the way to the final.