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Lacazette at the double as Arsenal beat Valencia 3-1
Arsenal gave themselves a brilliant chance of reaching the Europa League final with a 3-1 semi-final first leg win over Valencia at the Emirates.
Unai Emery, who managed Valencia between 2008 and 2014, watched his new team secure a vital win over the Spanish side ahead of the return match next week.
The Gunners came into the game off the back of dismal recent run in the league which has seen them ship 9 goals in their last three matches and once again they were found wanting defensively here.
Valencia started the game on the front foot and deservedly took the lead after just ten minutes when Mouctar Diakhaby somehow beat three Arsenal players in the air to head the visitors in front.
Unai Emery’s side found a response just seven minutes later when Alexandre Lacazette found Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with an incisive through ball.
The Gabonese striker outpaced his defender before cutting back, taking the keeper out of the game before returning the ball to strike partner Lacazette for a simple finish.
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Arsenal found themselves in front on 25 minutes when midfielder Granit Xhaka picked up the ball on the left hand side of the penalty area before sending a deep cross into the box.
Lacazatte’s header was too powerful for Neto in the Valencia goal as the Brazilian keeper failed to stop the ball from crossing the line.
After the break, Lacazette spurned opportunities to seal his hat trick and extend Arsenal’s lead.
The Frenchman first failed to connect with a header five yards from goal after misjudging the flight of the ball, before having two close range efforts blocked in a matter of seconds.
Arsenal eventually added a vital third in the final minute of normal time as Aubameyang slammed home a close-range volley from a Saed Kolasinac cross.
There was some concern among the Arsenal ranks however, as Laurent Koscielny appeared to be struggling with an injury for much of the match before limping off late on.
The Gunners travel to the Mestalla next week with a commanding lead as Unai Emery hopes to reach his fourth final in this competition as a manager.
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