Villarreal manager Unai Emery insists his past at Arsenal is not important.
Emery spent 18 months at the Gunners before being sacked in December 2018.
The Spaniard will meet his former side in the Europa League semi-finals after the two sides won their quarter-finals on Thursday.
"We are happy. It was a challenge, but the trajectory in the Europa League is being very serious and we are responding at a higher level every time," Emery said.
"We have taken the game where we feel more comfortable. We have [managed] it both here and in Zagreb.
"It is a challenge, something that Villarreal has already done. Breaking the barrier of the semi-finals is the great challenge. The idea of reaching the Champions League through the Europa League is very important.
"When I signed here this was [part of the process]. You have to live each moment. We are receiving people's dream. The dream increases. My past at Arsenal is less important."
