[Team News] Valencia v Arsenal – Three Big Changes For Europa League Semi-Final
Drew James
How are your nerves holding up Gunners fans? Arsenal face a Europa League or bust scenario tonight at the Mestalla Stadium – this is the last chance this season to bring Champions League football back to the Emirates next season.
Team News – Player Ratings – Match Highlights
Match: Valencia v Arsenal
Stadium: Mestalla Stadium, Valencia
Kick-Off (UK Time): 20:00 09/05/2019
Arsenal hold a 3-1 lead from the first leg of the Europa League semi-final against Valencia and are favourites to see out the tie in Spain, but nothing is done yet – as we've all seen in the last two nights, comebacks are the new normal.
Arsenal manager Unai Emery told pre-match press that the Europa League has become an 'attractive' bit of silverware, and continues to grow in prestige, so it's a huge motivator for the Gunners to clinch their first European trophy since the Cup Winners' Cup.
"We started with two possible routes to the Champions League, one through the Premier League and the second through the Europa League."
"We're finished in the Premier League, no possibility, but we have a possibility in this competition."
"With big ambition, full motivation, strong mentality, I want to enjoy this game. Games like this, away, difficult team, for an important target is all positive for us."
Three big swaps to the Arsenal starting XI vs Valencia expected on Thursday will be Lucas Torreira and Henrikh Mkhitaryan back in midfield, with Laurent Koscielny in defence – likely in place of Sokratis.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette will once again be deployed up-front, as the pair look to add that all so important away goal as early as possible in Valencia.
If the Gunners score first then it would be hard to see the Spanish side having the desired quality to mount a third European comeback in as many days.
More Stories: Arsenal, Arsenal team news, Europa League, semi final, Unai Emery, Valencia, valencia v arsenal