Arsenal in the ascendency over Valencia
Semi-final 1st Leg
Arsenal 3-1 Valencia
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a late third and Alexandre Lacazette scored twice as Arsenal came from behind to secure a 3-1 advantage over Valencia in the opening leg of their Europa League semi-final at the Emirates.
The Spanish side were rewarded for their bright start as Mouctar Diakhaby benefited from slack defending to head the visitors in front after just 11 minutes.
But Lacazette met Aubameyang’s pull-back to level the score before meeting Granti Xhaka’s cross to head Arsenal in front before the interval.
Lacazette had two good chances to complete his hat-trick in the second period, but in the end, it was Aubameyang who added the crucial third, meeting Sead Kolasinac’s cross to blast home at the far post in the 90th minute.
Unai Emery, who won the competition three times in successive years during his time at Sevilla, will be confident of reaching the final in Baku, but his side made a poor start with Ezequiel Garay blazing over from close range inside the opening eight minutes.
The Gunners, who returned to a back three following the recent 3-0 defeat at Leicester, hadn’t learned their lesson, as three minutes later, Rodrigo was afforded time to meet Daniel Parejo’s corner to head back across goal for Diakhaby to nod home from two yards out.
But Arsenal soon settled from their early nerves to level as Mesut Ozil combined with Lacazette before unselfish play from Aubameyang found the Frenchman for a simple finish.
Lacazette was soon celebrating his 18th goal of the season as he rose above Facundo Roncaglia to head beyond Neto, despite the Valencia goalkeeper’s best efforts to keep the ball from crossing the line.
Arsenal were the dominant side in the second period, and Lacazette was left wondering how he hadn’t completed his hat-trick when first he failed to connect with Aubameyang’s cross after 64 minutes, before the former Lyon striker was brilliantly denied from point-blank range by Neto’s feet.
But just when it appeared that Emery’s men would only have a slender advantage to take to the Mestalla next Thursday, Aubameyang was in the right place to fire home Sead Kolasinac’s deep cross in the final minute of normal time, leaving Valencia with plenty of work to do in the return leg.
