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Arsenal to face Chelsea in Europa League final after Aubameyang stuns
Valencia
VALENCIA, Spain, May 10, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Arsenal will play Chelsea in the
Europa League final after a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hat-trick ended
Valencia’s hopes of another dramatic European comeback on Thursday.
Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, Valencia made the perfect start at
Mestalla when Kevin Gameiro finished at the back post but goals from
Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette left the home side needing four in 40
minutes.
Gameiro scored again, sparking hopes of a revival to trump even the efforts
of Liverpool and Tottenham this week, before Aubameyang hit his second and
then completed a brilliant hat-trick to seal a 4-2 win, 7-3 on aggregate.
There will be a London derby for the final in Baku on May 29 and, for the
first time in history, four English teams competing in both the Champions
League and Europa League finals, with Liverpool and Spurs meeting in Madrid
three days later.
It also keeps alive Arsenal’s chance of securing a place in the Champions
League next season and, realistically, their last chance, given they need to
overturn three points and an eight-goal swing on Tottenham in the Premier
League this weekend.
“We couldn’t get the Champions League through the league, but this is
another way,” said Arsenal coach Unai Emery. “Our objective is clearly to go
to the Champions League but also this is a trophy. It will not be easy.”
Valencia had been relying on the Europa League for Champions League
qualification too, given they sit three points behind Getafe, who face a
demoralised Barcelona on Sunday, with two games left in La Liga.
But over the two legs, Marcelino’s side could have few complaints. They
were second best at Emirates Stadium and defensively frantic here.
Arsenal, usually so fragile away from home, picked them off with ease as
Aubameyang and Lacazette, boasting 48 goals between them this season, proved
themselves to be a first-class attack in a second-tier competition.
“Auba was unbelievable tonight,” Lacazaette told BT Sport. “We have played
badly in the Premier League during the last month and now we have to use this
opportunity. We want to play in the Champions League next season and we want
the trophy.”
— Pain for Spain —
There will also be no Spanish team in either European final for the first
time since 2013, and only the second time in 10 years.
Valencia made a brilliant start as Jose Gaya headed wide at the near post
and Goncalo Guedes fired over, with Petr Cech playing for time as early as
the fifth minute in the hope of a chance for breath.
Instead, Arsenal conceded, caught upfield after Alex Maitland-Niles shot at
Neto, who rolled out to launch the counter-attack. Rodrigo swept wide to
Guedes and ran ahead of him, receiving and firing to the back post, where
Gameiro slid in.
Valencia looked like they could score six let alone the one more required,
only for Arsenal to find an equaliser against the run of play.
Cech punted downfield and Lacazette flicked on, with Aubameyang nipping in
and, before his opponents could recover, driving into the bottom corner.
The rest of the half was high on intensity but low on quality as Valencia
struggled to reboot. Aubameyang shot at Neto and Lacazette’s whipped effort
clipped the outside of the post.
Half-time should have been timely for the hosts but it was Arsenal that
scored shortly after.
Dani Parejo’s careless pass put them in trouble before Gaya was outmuscled.
Lucas Torreira found Lacazette, who spun out of the clutches of Cristiano
Piccini and buried the ball into the corner.
The tie looked done, Valencia needing four in 40 minutes, but they got one
back eight minutes later, Gameiro diverting Rodrigo’s shot in after Daniel
Wass had cut back.
Valencia believed again but only briefly because Aubameyang struck again.
Maitland-Niles ghosted past Guedes and crossed to the near post, where
Aubameyang was too quick for Gabriel Paulista.
Some of Valencia’s fans headed for the exits and even more followed when
Aubameyang lashed another shot into the roof of the net for his third, and
Arsenal’s fourth.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0842 hrs