The UEFA Europa League semi finals are a chance for Valencia CF to reach two finals in the same season for the first time in their history, and also a chance for defender Gabriel Paulista to play against former club Arsenal.

The Brazilian joined the English side in January of 2015, from Villarreal CF -the side Valencia CF eliminated in the quarter final stage of this season's competition. He would remain in London until June 2017, when he made his return to Spain.

"The opposition in the quarter finals and the semifinals have been my two previous clubs, and it will be a very nice game against Arsenal," Paulista told VCF Media on Friday.

"The Emirates is one of the best stadiums in the world, and we are going to be going up against a good team. We will prepare for the tie with the idea of getting a good result there, and we will try to win. We know that it will be difficult, but we will try."

The centre back also commented that "Our dynamic is good. When I arrived here I wanted to make history with Valencia CF, just like the rest of the team do. We've already reached one final and we're going to try to reach another. We hope that we make a lot of history in the club's Centenary year, and that in another 100 years we are remembered as the side that got to two finals in the same season. I hope that we win, and that it is a perfect year."

Before the European encounter, however, the focus returns to LaLiga, and this Sunday's trip to the Benito Villamarín to take on Real Betis.

"It's another competition and Sunday will be a very tough battle," warned Paulista. "We know what we are going to be up against, we will try to do things as well as we can and get the three points, continuing the run that we are on. We want to achieve our goal of playing Champions League football next season. We have to forget about other teams and focus on ourselves."