On Friday, Arsenal will hopefully be in the Europa League semi-final draw along with three other clubs from around the continent, so here’s the lowdown on what to expect from each one.

At this stage, we still don’t know for sure which three of the six teams remaining will still be in the competition tomorrow. Let’s look at all the possibilities:

RB Leipzig

Leipzig started out in the Champions League, but dropped down to the Europa League after finishing third in their group.

They finished second in the Bundesliga last season, but are on a bit of a rough patch right now, which has seen them drop down to sixth. They’re still only six points off second though.

Despite their inconsistent league and Champions League form, Leipzig have looked impressive in the Europa League so far. They had to see off Napoli in the round of 32, and beat Zenit St. Petersburg 3-2 in the last 16. They won the first leg of their quarter-final 1-0 against Marseille.

German striker Timo Werner has four goals in five games in the competition, so he’s one to watch out for.

Naby Keita is their other star man, and the 23-year-old is set to join Liverpool in the summer. You can bet he’d be keen to make an impression up against a rival English side.

2017/18 European record

• Wins: 5
• Draws: 2
• Defeats: 4
• Goals scored: 17
• Goals conceded: 16

Olympique de Marseille

Marseille have been playing Europa League football for longer than most this season, as they had to make it through two qualifiers just to earn a place in the group stages.

They didn’t have the most inspiring of campaigns in Group I, with two wins, two draws and two defeats, but they’ve looked confident in the knockout rounds so far.

Like Arsenal, they won the first leg of their round-of-32 tie 3-0, before falling to a one-goal defeat in the second. After that, they won both legs of their last-16 tie against Athletic Bilbao, progressing 5-2 on aggregate. They lost the first leg of the RB Leipzig quarter-final 1-0.

Their star men at the moment are probably Dimitri Payet and Florian Thauvin. Most Arsenal fans will already know both from their respective spells in England.

Payet played for West Ham, and was frequently compared to Mesut Özil for a few months before disappearing back to France. This season he’s scored eight goals and provided 16 assists. Four of those goal contributions came in Europa League knockout rounds.

Meanwhile Thauvin spent even less time playing for Newcastle United, only making 13 league appearances before he was loaned back to Marseille. They made the transfer permanent last summer.

Since then, the winger has scored 18 goals and provided 16 assists. I’m sure he’ll be keen to make an impression against English opposition if given the chance.

2017/18 European record

• Wins: 7
• Draws: 4
• Defeats: 4
• Goals scored: 20
• Goals conceded: 11

Atletico Madrid

Like Leipzig, Atletico started out in the Champions League, but they had a tough group. Chelsea and AS Roma ended up finishing first and second, as the Spanish side simply drew too many matches.

That hasn’t been a problem in the Europa League, as they’ve won every game so far. They won the first-leg of their quarter-final 2-0 against Sporting CP.

Atletico’s strength is undoubtedly their defensive record. Despite finishing third in their Champions League group, they only conceded four goals in six games. Arsenal conceded more than that in their last Champions League match alone.

Striker Antoine Griezmann is in his usual impressive form for the side this year, with 25 goals and 13 assists in 40 matches. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak casts a formidable figure in behind the defence, and only adds to their solidity at the back.

Diego Simeone’s side are surely favourites for the tournament.

2017/18 European record

• Wins: 6
• Draws: 4
• Defeats: 1
• Goals scored: 20
• Goals conceded: 6

Sporting CP

Sporting are another team that started out in the Champions League, but they had a horrific group. Barcelona and Juventus aren’t exactly who you want for company in the group stages.

They at least managed to beat Olympiacos twice, finishing third and qualifying for the Europa League. Since then they’ve knocked out FC Astana, and scraped past Viktoria Plzen in injury time.

Unfortunately, it looks like their run might come to an end on Thursday night, as they’re 2-0 down to Atletico Madrid after the first-leg.

If they are going to go through, they need to get a big result at home, and Bas Dost could be the man to inspire them. The Netherlands international has 31 goals and five assists this season, in 42 appearances.

2017/18 European record

• Wins: 5
• Draws: 3
• Defeats: 5
• Goals scored: 22
• Goals conceded: 18

Lazio

Lazio are having a great season, sitting third in the Serie A table and 4-2 up in the Europa League quarter-final against Red Bull Salzburg. That position looks pretty precarious though, as Inter Milan in fifth place are only one point behind.

As a result, the side will be taking their Europa League campaign even more seriously, I’m sure, to ensure they don’t end up missing out on Champions League football next year.

Similarly, two away goals for Salzburg mean it would only take a 2-0 win to turn the tie on its head. That’s one to keep an eye on.

Undoubtedly the attacking star of their team is Ciro Immobile. The centre-forward has a massive 38 goals and 11 assists in just 41 matches this season. Eight of those goal contributions came in as many games in the Europa League.

The next closest goalscorer is Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, on 11 goals, so Immobile is really the key to their successes. Without him they only won one of their three Europa League games, and even that one was only 1-0.

2017/18 European record

• Wins: 7
• Draws: 2
• Defeats: 2
• Goals scored: 25
• Goals conceded: 13

Red Bull Salzburg

Red Bull Salzburg have spent even more time in Europe than Marseille this season. Initially they started out playing Champions League qualifiers, but went out in the third round on away goals to HNK Rijeka.

They then won their Europa League qualifier, then the group stages and knockout rounds. Their match on Thursday night is their 18th European game of the season. Nonetheless, their defeat to Lazio was actually their first of the campaign.

Although the 4-2 scoreline that night might not suggest it, Salzburg have been very good defensively. They’ve only conceded more than one goal on two occasions, and kept 10 clean sheets. That includes one against Borussia Dortmund, as they knocked the German side out in the last-16.

Salzburg spread their goals around as well. They have six players in double figures for the season, but their top scorer is Moanes Dabour, on 23 goals and nine assists.

Dabour assisted both goals in the first leg against Lazio, but he might need to score a couple himself to qualify for Friday’s draw.

2017/18 European record

• Wins: 9
• Draws: 7
• Defeats: 1
• Goals scored: 29
• Goals conceded: 11