Valencia promised to go straight on the offensive from the start and they certainly did. The first ten minutes the team in white were all over us, although we seemed to be containing them very well. Then disaster as the ball somehow goes right through the middle of Cech and Monreal into the path of Gameiro’s sliding legs.
It was the last thing we needed to give us the jitters and the 44,000 crowd went crazy with real hope of pulling off a great comeback, but they were soon quietened by an incredible curling goal from Aubameyand from a speculative long ball forward from Cech.
Suddenly all was calm again, and Valencia didn’t seem quite so dangerous, but Guedes was tormenting Maitland-Niles down the left which Emery will have to do something about at some point. But both sides managed to get to half-time without scoring although Aubz and Laca are looking in very dangerous mood. WE were definotely not sitting back to hold on to our lead.
Coming back out at 1-1 seemed to make Arsenal relaxed and looked totally in control. When our pressure gave Lacazette the chance to show his close quarters quality, as he danced around the Valencian defence and produced a sublime finish to give Arsenal a virtually unassailable lead with 40 minutes to go. And immediately after we get the news that Frankfurt have equalised against Chelsea making their game wide open again. This could be a VERY good night after all!
Valencia were determined to go down fighting and that man Gameiro finishes a lucky tussle with Cech created by awful Arsenal defending. Could they score another three in the last half an hour? They certainly went for it and Arsenal were camped in their own half trying to weather the storm in numbers, but suddenly Aubameyang was on the end of another breakaway and made another brilliant finish. Surely Valencia…. etc, etc!
Los Che carried on making the game exciting for their fans but you could see Arsenal were totally unworried and were happy to coast to the end of the game. A great chance again nearly fell to Aubz but a defender just slid in to divert the ball.
He did finally get it when he was slipped through by Mhki and yet another sublime finish to polish off a star performance.
A great night for Arsenal and especially the 2000 travelling fans over in Spain tonight. And so onto the final. The dream is still alive…
Admin
PS The Chelsea games looks set for extra time….