After an early display of questionable defending, Arsenal regrouped themselves and regathered their purpose to overcome Valencia and take a 3-1 first-leg lead.
2018/2019 UEFA Europa League
3-1
Match Report
Valencia will take an away goal back to Mestalla, but Marcelino's men trail Arsenal 3-1 after the first leg of the Europa League semi-final.
Alexandre Lacazette scored twice as Arsenal came from behind to beat Valencia 3-1 at home in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final.
Mouctar Diakhaby headed Valencia into an early lead at Emirates Stadium on Thursday but within 14 minutes the Gunners had turned the tie around.
Lacazette first finished off a swift counter-attack involving Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang before heading home Granit Xhaka's cross to put Unai Emery's men in front.
And the Spaniard, a three-time winner of the competition with Sevilla, will take a two-goal lead back to former club Valencia for next week's second leg after Aubameyang struck late on.
Match Events
11' GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Valencia (Diakhaby)
The visitors take a deserved lead as Diakhaby heads home from close range. Parejo delivered a corner deep to the back post. Moreno was there to head the ball back across the face of goal where Diakhaby rose highest to nod the ball into the net from six yards.
15' MISS! Guedes skies the ball over
Gaya offloads the ball towards Parejo on the edge of the box and he hits a low strike towards the bottom corner. Cech makes a fine stop, but the rebound remains in the box. Maitland-Niles tries to head the ball back to his keeper, but Guedes closes him down and tries a first-time effort, only to guide his attempt over the bar.
18' GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Valencia (Lacazette)
Arsenal are back in the game out of nowhere. Lacazette releases Aubameyang through the middle and the striker surges into the box. The Gabonese cuts back before offloading towards Lacazette on the charge, who has an open goal to slide his left-footed strike into the back of the net. A clinical counter from the Gunners.
25' GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Valencia (Lacazette)
The Gunners complete their comeback to take the lead through the Frenchman. Xhaka lifts a dangerous cross into the box from the left flank. Lacazette gets the better of his man in the middle and he heads the ball down towards the bottom corner. Neto pushes the ball against the post, but it strikes the inside of the woodwork and travels backwards over the line. The referee awards the goal using the technology on his wrist.
34' CHANCE! Aubameyang's volley over the bar
Xhaka charges forward down the left flank and he lifts a ball to Aubameyang unmarked in the right inside channel. The forward takes on the strike first time, drilling his volley into the ground, but the ball bounces comfortably over the bar.
67' Lacazette misses a golden chance!
Xhaka lines up a strike from the edge of the box that is deflected into the path of the forward in the left inside channel. He takes a touch before firing towards the near post with his strike, but Neto makes the save with his feet. Lacazette goes for the rebound, only to see his second attempt repelled by Gabriel.
73' Great save from Cech!
Parejo opens up the Arsenal defence down the right inside channel with an incisive throughball for Gameiro. Cech races off his line to meet the forward and he does enough to make the stop with his legs, conceding a corner in the process.
90' GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Valencia (Aubameyang)
The Gunners have a third goal this evening as Aubameyang rifles the ball home on the volley at the back post. Valencia fail to clear their lines after the save from Neto. Kolasinac whips the ball to the back post where the Gabonese iss unmarked. Aubameyang connects well with his strike and it beats Neto for pace to find the back of the net.
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