Arsenal train for crunch Europa League match as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reveals health scare - in pictures

Villarreal hold 2-1 advantage heading into semi-final second leg on Thursday

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during Arsenal's training session in St Albans on Wednesday. Getty

Martin Odegaard, Alexandre Lacazette, Gabriel Magalhaes and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang train for their Europa League clash against Villarreal. Getty

David Luiz during Arsenal's training session at London Colney. Getty

Kieran Tierney, Hector Bellerin and Flo Balogun of Arsenal during training. Getty

Mat Ryan during Arsenal's training session at London Colney. Getty

Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey of Arsenal during training on Wednesday. Getty

Granit Xhaka and Bukayo Saka during training on the eve of their Europa League clash. Getty

Mikel Arteta oversees Arsenal's training. Getty

Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took part in training on Wednesday with one eye on the Europa League clash against Villarreal, while looking back at his recent health scare.

Aubameyang revealed his family were scared by his weight loss after he contracted malaria while on international duty in March.

The Gabon forward missed four games following the diagnosis. He returned off the bench in the Europa League semi-final first-leg defeat by Villarreal last week and is in line to start the return game on Thursday, having scored in Sunday's Premier League win at Newcastle.

The 31-year-old revealed how a sudden drop in weight and change in mood had his relatives worried about his health.

"I was feeling very, very bad," he said on Wednesday. "This was the worst moment of being sick in my life because it was really hard.

"I had three days in a row, fever, all day and all night, non-stop. Even the paracetamol and stuff had no effects on this. After that, I spoke to the doctor.

"I said I needed to go to the hospital because I had travelled to Africa so maybe it was something like malaria.

"I stayed in hospital for three days. I was really, really down and I think I lost four kilos. It was a really bad moment and I think my family was a bit scared to see me like this."

Aubameyang, who signed a new three-year contract in September, has struggled for form this season and was given a period of compassionate leave to visit his sick mother, before being dropped for the north London derby win over Tottenham after arriving late.

The bout of malaria then followed but Aubameyang, who said Thursday's crunch game with Villarreal at the Emirates Stadium was "maybe the start of the season" for him personally, is aiming to return to form at just the right time.

The forward hit a hat-trick when Arsenal beat Valencia in the second leg of a Europa League semi-final two years ago under Unai Emery, whose Villarreal side now stand in the way of a second final in three years for the Gunners.

Villarreal hold a 2-1 advantage from the first leg at El Madrigal, where Nicolas Pepe's penalty gave Arsenal what could prove to be a crucial away goal.

The winners would almost certainly face Manchester United, who won the first leg of their semi-final against Roma 6-2.