Arsenal 3-1 Valencia: Alexandre Lacazette double helps give Gunners the edge in Europa League semi-final

Arsenal 3-1 Valencia: Alexandre Lacazette double helps give Gunners the edge in Europa League semi-final
Alexandre Lacazette scored twice as Arsenal came from behind to beat Valencia 3-1 on Thursday.The Gunners take the advantage in their Europa League semi-final as the French striker cancelled out Mouctar Diakhaby’s opener.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then scored late on to give them a crucial goal to give them a two goal lead going into the second legGetty3

Alexandre Lacazette scores Arsenal’s second goal

Arsenal made four changes as Mesut Ozil returned to the starting line-up along with Laurent Koscielny, Matteo Guendouzi and Petr Cech.Former Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin missed out for Valencia as he serves a suspension – as fellow ex-Gunner Gabriel lined up in the visitors’ defence.Carlos Soler, Mouctar Diakhaby, Ezequiel Garay, Cristiano Piccini were recalled by Marcelino following a 1-0 home defeat to Eibar on Sunday.Arsenal found themselves behind inside 11 minutes – gifting an away goal for the Spanish side.After a promising start, the hosts should have fallen behind in the ninth minute when Ezequiel Garay inexplicably blazed over Jose Gaya’s low cross from two yards.Getty3

Mouctar Diakhaby opens the scoring for Valencia

But they only had to wait two minutes to break the deadlock as Mouctar Diakhaby nodded home from close range after Rodrigo headed Daniel Parejo’s corner back across goal.Arsenal should have fallen further behind when a Parejo drive from range was parried by Cech, which Ainsley Maitland-Niles attempted to head back to the home goalkeeper with Rodrigo intercepting but could only chip over the crossbar.The hosts drew level in the 18th minute when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang beat the offside trap and cut inside the penalty area with Neto rushing out to close the angle, before the striker stabbed a pass for Alexandre Lacazette to pass into an empty net.Getty3

Alexandre Lacazette has his shot blocked

Emery’s side turned the match on its head when Lacazette netted his second in the 26th minute.Arsenal worked down the left wing and Sead Kolasinac curled in a great delivery for the French striker to direct a powerful header into the ground and in off the post, which Neto tried to keep out only for referee Clement Turpin to signal that the ball cross the line.Aubameyang narrowly fired over when Granit Xhaka curled a fine cross to the far post for the striker to volley first time. Arsenal dictated possession but Valencia continued to threat on the counter attack, with neither side creating any real clearcut chances in the first 15 minutes of the second half.Lacazette should have completed his hat-trick in the 63rd minute when Aubameyang found half a yard down the left wing to clip a cross into the box.Facundo Roncaglia misjudged the flight of ball inside the six-yard box but Lacazette did not anticipate the miss and spurned the chance.He had the perfect chance to redeem himself four minutes later when Xhaka’s shot deflected off Aubameyang and into his path, but Neto produced a superb save at his near post with his feet from six yards.Aubameyang ensured Arssenal will take a two-goal advantage to Spain for their return fixture as Valencia failed to deal with a deflected Lacazette shot, which worked its way to the left wing for Kolasinac to cross to the far post for the striker to volley home.

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