sport news 'We are not afraid': Sokratis determined to secure Europa League glory with ...

Willian dropped his shoulder and charged into the Arsenal penalty area. He knocked the ball out of his feet and set off towards the byline. 

Eden Hazard waited in the box for the cut-back. Before Willian even had chance to attempt a cross, in slide a lunging blur of red. 

The ball was gone, Willian was on the ground alongside his vanquisher.

Arsenal defender Sokratis made a crunching challenge on Chelsea's Willian in January

Arsenal defender Sokratis made a crunching challenge on Chelsea's Willian in January

Sokratis Papastathopoulos jumped to his feet, thrust his fist into the air and roared. Arsenal's huge Greek centre-back, sinews bulging, celebrated his slide tackle as though it counted towards the score.

In a way, it kind of did. It helped Arsenal to a 2-0 win over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in January, their first league victory over their rivals in five attempts.

If they can roll up their sleeves once more on Wednesday in Baku, the Gunners will have much more to celebrate: some silverware, a Europa League title and a place in the Champions League.

'I remember it was a good game from us,' recalls Sokratis. 'We were much better than them. Chelsea has a good team with very good players. We respect them. But we are not afraid. It's one game. One final. We like to be there. We like to win. We want to play next year in the Champions League.' 

No-nonsense defender Sokratis is determined to win the Europa League with Arsenal

No-nonsense defender Sokratis is determined to win the Europa League with Arsenal

That attitude does seem a little un-Arsenal. For so long now there has been a soft under belly of this team. Not enough leaders, not enough backbone. Sokratis certainly has that, and the fans and Unai Emery love him for it. He's turned into a bit of a cult hero since his move from Borussia Dortmund last summer.

'My work is to defend and to do everything to help the team,' he added. 'If this means sometimes I have to take a yellow card or do something that is not so good for me but not good for the team, then I will do it.

'I hope the fans love and understand it. Football is not only a lot of good things that they like to see - technical things, strategy - you have to do a lot of different things to win.' 

For Sokratis, that includes smashing people. Not surprising, perhaps, for someone who Jurgen Klopp, when the two worked together at Dortmund, admitted that 'you're never quite sure if he's about to kill you'. 

That has sometimes spilled out towards his own team-mates. While at Werder Bremen, he was involved in a training-ground scuffle with Marko Arnautovic, someone Sokratis also calls a friend.

Unai Emery could end up securing Arsenal's first European trophy in 25 years

Unai Emery could end up securing Arsenal's first European trophy in 25 years

Not that this new side to an Arsenal defence worked completely. They still

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