Can Valencia qualify for the Europa League Final against Arsenal?

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07/05/19

Can Valencia qualify for the Europa League Final against Arsenal?

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Valencia host Arsenal on Thursday night in the Europa League semifinal second leg. The Spanish club need at least two goals to overturn the tie and progress to the final.

Arsenal came from behind to win the first leg of the Europa League semifinal 3-1. Valencia’s Mouctar Diakhaby opened the scoring from a set piece, but Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette equalised before halftime.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang found the back of the net twice in the second half to give Arsenal the victory and upper hand.

Despite Arsenal’s success in the first leg, they have struggled on the domestic front. The Gunners are winless in five of their last six games in the Premier League. Unai Emery’s team threw away a 1-0 lead at the weekend against Brighton to draw 1-1.

Valencia’s weekend was far more successful than Arsenal’s game against Brighton. Los Che defeated Huesca 6-2 thanks to two goals each from Santi Mina and Rodrigo Moreno. Daniel Wass added another while Huesca’s Xabier Etxeita scored an own goal.

Los Che manager Marcelino should be confident his side can overturn the two-goal deficit on Thursday night at the Mestalla. Arsenal struggle away from the Emirates and until they defeated Napoli away in the previous round, they hadn’t won on the road in the Europa League knockout stage.

Emery has no new injury worries as Aaron Ramsey, Denis Suarez, Rob Holding, Danny Welbeck, and Hector Bellerin are all out of action for the remainder of the season. Ramsey leadership has been missed by the team, however.

Valencia have one new injury issue as Moreno suffered a knock to his ankle against Huesca. Moreno has been included in Marcelino’s team after suffering the injury scare and will be on the bench at the very least.

The in-form striker has been brilliant for Valencia over the last 24 months. Several clubs are lining up to pluck him from Valencia in the summer. Denis Cheryshev and Geoffrey Kondogbia are out for the rest of the season and will play no part on Thursday.

Valencia CF have not lost to Arsenal at the Mestalla in their last three meetings. All three meetings ended in Valencia wins. But Arsenal are in the driver’s seat and an away goal should seal progression to the final.

It was the second leg of their Europa League semifinal 12 months ago that Arsenal slipped up in Spain. The Gunners fell to Atletico Madrid after drawing 1-1 in the first leg at the Emirates.

Emery has experience winning the Europa League as he won three in a row with Sevilla. He knows how to get the job done in the competition.

Valencia must go for goal in the second leg and due to their need to score and they will be open at the back. Arsenal should get the away goal they need to progress.

Both clubs will score at the Mestalla as over 2.5 goals go into the back of the net. Arsenal will move on with either Eintracht Frankfurt or London rivals Chelsea waiting for them.

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