A sound victory for the Gunners with goals from star attacking duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alex Lacazette gave Valencia a miserable journey home and Arsenal with it all to look forward to ahead of next week's second leg. A fourth goal would have likely buried the tie completely but another similar performance next week in Spain will see Unai Emery's men deservedly in a Europa League final.
An incredibly frustrating slow start all over the park enabled the visitors to take the lead with a scrappy goal. Chaos from a Valencia corner stemmed from a deep cross and a player unmarked at the far post looping a header back into the mixer. Towering midfielder Mouctar Diakhaby bundled it home from close range with Cech and co nowhere to be seen. Ultimately, it was a catalyst to get the Arsenal machine going and fortunately, it took a mere seven minutes to gain full speed. Pace was the theme of the night for the Gunners, as every time Aubameyang, Lacazette, Ozil and later Mkhitaryan injected any pace and ran at Valencia, danger followed. Lacazette drove forward stepping into the Valencia half, fed his partner who lit the light with raw pace bearing down on goal. He cut back onto his right foot and instead of shooting, he found his strike partner unmarked to make it one all. A few minutes later there was another. Lacazette grabbed his second with a downward arrowing header that left the keeper with no chance as the ball just crossed the line, coming in off the post. Two-one up and finally on top. Valencia were left pretty flat for the rest of the first half as they couldn't handle Arsenal's pace and intensity. The half time break came at a good time for the Spaniards.
The second half didn't start as slowly as the first but it wasn't quite the pace that the first period ended at, and it gave Valencia a sniff. They were never really out of the game until very late on, as Lacazette missed two sitters whilst Arsenal pressure kept coming but never really turned into real chances...other than those missed. It took some brilliance late on down the left flank between Lacazette, Kolasinac, Xhaka and a little Mkhitaryan in there too as the ball came in deep and found the unmarked Aubameyang at the far post who slammed it home. A deserved third goal and potentially the difference between Valencia still fancying it or not. Not the best start but certainly a grandstand finish and a well earned win where even the likes of Mustafi had a pretty decent game.
Ratings
Unai Emery: 9
Besides starting Guendouzi ahead of Torreira, Emery got it all right. The shape was spot on and the personnel was pretty good. His substitutions were all ideally timed and were also good personnel wise. It was a very good night for the man in charge who can surely taste another Europa League final already. Valencia's start gave him a slight head ache but he kicks and heads every ball from the touchline, gets into his players and ultimately got them going. Starting the Aubameyang-Lacazette-Ozil trio up top is a must going forward. They are so dynamic and dangerous, its only a matter of time before they find the net. Pace in wide areas helps and although Emery has two more league games to face, he could be looking to rest players already as he considers another European tour.
Petr Cech: 7.5
Shkodran Mustafi: 7.5
Sokratis: 7
Laurent Koscielny: 7.5
Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 7.5
Matteo Guendouzi: 6.5
Granit Xhaka: 6.5
Sead Kolasinac: 7.5
Mesut Ozil: 8
Alex Lacazette: 9
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 8.5
Subs
Lucas Torreira: 7
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 6
Nacho Monreal: 5
Onto Spain next week now, ahead of what will hopefully be a trophy-ending night in Baku.
@craigbennett10
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