UEFA Europa League
Result: Valencia 2-4 Arsenal (3-7 on aggregate)
Date: 09 May 2019
Venue: Mestalla
Arsenal claimed a 4-2 victory in their Europa League semi-final second-leg clash against Valencia at Mestalla on Thursday evening to progress to the final. Valencia were definitely on top in the opening exchanges and took the lead in the 10th minute. Rodrigo was played in down the left-hand side before skipping past Sokratis and delivering an inch-perfect cross into the six-yard box, where four-time Europa League winner Kevin Gameiro was on hand to tuck home. Soon after, Ainsley Maitland-Nile's dreadful attempt at an interception left Arsenal exposed, with Goncalo Guedes teeing up Rodrigo, who took a clever first touch before getting a shot off, but the visitors were spared by Gameiro getting in the way of his team-mate's strike. Arsenal equalised in the 17th minute. Petr Cech's long goal-kick was flicked on by Alexandre Lacazette in to the path of strike partner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who produced a brilliant finish with the outside of his foot in to the bottom left-hand corner. In the 34th minute, Guedes won a free-kick off Lucas Torreira 25 yards out and Dani Parejo came close from the set-piece, curling his effort just wide of Petr Cech's right-hand upright. Once again, Lacazette and Aubameyang combined to fine effect in the 38th minute to almost give Arsenal the lead. The Gabonese broke down the right-hand side and cut the ball back to the Frenchman, who guided a curling effort inches wide of the left-hand upright. Five minutes after the interval, the Gunners took the lead. Aubameyang won the ball back high up the pitch and it fell to Torreira, who laid it on to Lacazette with the diminutive striker turning well in to the box and curling the ball in to the left-hand corner. The hosts equalised in the 58th minute. Parejo played in Daniel Wass down the right-hand side, who fired the ball across goal with Cech unable to hold on as Gameiro bundled it over the line. Ten minutes later, Unai Emery's side restored their lead. Maitland-Niles skipped past his marker down the right-hand side, got to the byline and squared the ball for Aubameyang, who got in front of his marker to poke home. Aubameyang grabbed his hat-trick to put the icing on the cake. Guendouzi played the ball to Aubameyang, who let it go through his legs to Henrik Mkhitaryan. The Armenian then slid a through-ball in to the path of Aubameyang, who rifled in to the corner from a tight angle close to the right-hand side byline. In the end, it was a convincing win for an Aubameyang-inspired Arsenal. 
