English clubs soar in the Champions League, United and Spurs to follow?

Arsenal and Aston Villa reach UCL quarterfinals; Man United, Spurs, and Chelsea fight for Europa and Conference League progress in crucial second-leg.

Manchester United is on the brink in the Europa League, they must beat Real Sociedad to advance to the quarter finals. (Photo credit: GOAL)

Two Premier League clubs made it to the last eight of the UEFA Champions League, and while both clubs already planted one foot in the quarterfinals last week, the second legs felt like dead rubber games.

Arsenal wiped the floor with PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, and with a much-changed side, which included the use of three left-backs from the start, the Gunners settled for a 2-2 draw, which ended the tie 9-3 on aggregate.

Aston Villa had it even better in the second leg. Club Brugge was reduced to ten men early in the game with Marcus Rashford hacked down when he was through on goal, helping Unai Emery’s men to an emphatic 3-0 win on the night, 6-1 on aggregate, and another Marco Asensio brace.

The reward of those victories is more work for both sides, with Arsenal set to face record and reigning holders Real Madrid with the first leg at the Emirates next month, and Aston Villa will face the conquerors of Liverpool, PSG.

In the lower tiers of European football, Manchester United must do better than they did at Real Sociedad last week when the two sides lock horns on Thursday night. The tie is even after the first leg ended 1-1 in Spain.

United laboured to a 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the weekend, a result that warmed their hearts, but, amidst the protests against the owners, the players must lift moods with a stronger performance than they had at the weekend as the Europa League represents their only route to silverware this season.

Elsewhere on the night, Tottenham settled for a 2-2 draw at the weekend, albeit from a losing position; that must give them some confidence that they can overturn the 1-0 defeat they suffered in the Netherlands last week in the competition.

AZ Alkmaar represents a huge stumbling block on Tottenham’s way; realising the Europa League could send Spurs into the Champions League, Ange Postecoglou and his players must wake up on Thursday; they cannot afford to crash out of the tournament.

Finally for the Premier League in Europe, Chelsea takes their chase for the Conference League to the second leg of their clash against Danish side FC Copenhagen, a side they beat narrowly in Denmark last week 2-1 to stay in control of the tie.

It’s not yet over for the Blues in the Premier League as they’re chasing a top four finish; a fifth place could be enough to make it to the Champions League, but Chelsea will not take chances. Winning the Conference League will bring a feel-good factor; they’re the favourite, and they must prove that on Thursday.