MX23RW : Saturday, May 11 11:42:02| >> :600:313130:313130:
May 9, 2019 at 8pm UK at ​Mestalla
Attendance: 46,000
Valencia
2-4
Arsenal
Gameiro (11', 58')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Aubameyang (17', 69', 88'), Lacazette (50')

Preview: Valencia vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole provides team news, predicted lineups and a full preview of the second leg of the Europa League semi-final between Valencia and Arsenal.

Arsenal head into the second leg of their Europa League semi-final with Valencia having established a 3-1 advantage over the La Liga outfit.

Valencia took an early lead at the Emirates Stadium last week, but a double from Alexandre Lacazette and a late Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang effort have put the Gunners in control ahead of Thursday's meeting at the Mestalla.


Valencia

Valencia manager Marcelino watches on during his side's Champions League clash with Juventus in September 2018© Reuters

Boss Marcelino deserves credit for getting Valencia into a position where they could qualify for next season's Champions League and win the Europa League, but Los Ches must perform over their next three games to achieve one of those targets.

Defeats to Atletico Madrid and Eibar in La Liga were followed by the setback in North London last Thursday, and it has put Marcelino's squad on the back foot ahead of welcoming the Premier League club.

Valencia returned to winning ways at the weekend with a 6-2 triumph at struggling Huesca, but it has done little to reassure supporters that their side can overturn a deficit under pressure later this week.

Marcelino has witnessed his defence perform solidly throughout the season, but Valencia are currently on a seven-game streak without a clean sheet in La Liga.

Just one shutout has been registered in their last five outings in Europe, and it will only provide Arsenal with encouragement as they attempt to score the two goals which would leave Valencia requiring an unlikely five to progress.

The biggest plus from the weekend was how Valencia maintained their strong start, something which they were unable to do when taking an early lead against Arsenal at the Emirates.

However, Valencia have now conceded last-minute goals in each of their last three matches in all competitions, and it is something which will undoubtedly concern Marcelino ahead of this contest.

Former Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Paulista will be keen to impress against his former club, while attacker Santi Mina is under pressure to end his five-game run without a goal in this competition.

Recent form: WWDWWL
Recent form (all competitions): WWLLLW


Arsenal

Unai Emery in charge of Arsenal on April 18, 2019© Reuters

Opinion is currently divided over the success of Unai Emery's first year in charge at Arsenal, and it may take lifting the Europa League trophy for the Spaniard to win over any critics at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal had been in a position where achieving Champions League football through the Premier League was in their own hands, but just one point from four matches has led to the Gunners being highly unlikely to achieve a top-four position.

That run of form has placed increased priority on winning this competition, and Arsenal are the best placed out of the remaining four teams in the tournament to reach the final in Baku.

Emery will be worried about the number of chances which are being gifted to the opposition, but both Lacazette and Aubameyang have rediscovered their form in the final third.

The pair have contributed a combined total of seven goals and two assists from their last half-a-dozen outings, and improving on that in Spain on Thursday night will leave Arsenal on the brink of the final.

Arsenal suffered defeats at BATE Borisov and Rennes during the early knockout rounds, but recording a 1-0 win away at Napoli in the last eight has proven that the North London outfit can produce big performances on the road.

The English side found themselves making the trip to Spain at this stage of last season's competition, but a 1-0 setback at Atletico Madrid left the club missing out on another European final.

Much of this squad was present for the disappointment at the Wanda Metropolitano, and Emery will hope that lessons have been learned from that experience.

Recent form: LWLWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WLLLWD


Team News

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny in action during his side's Premier League clash with West Ham on January 12, 2019© Reuters

Emery is likely to hand a recall to Laurent Koscielny after the centre-back sat out the game with Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

Deputy goalkeeper Petr Cech will replace Bernd Leno, while Alex Iwobi could potentially get the nod ahead of Mesut Ozil.

Lucas Torreira is pushing for a starting role, but Emery may decide to stick with the combination of Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi.

Marcelino may opt to make minimal changes to the team which blitzed Huesca at the weekend, meaning that Valencia could start with a back four.

Ezequiel Garay may get the nod over Mouctar Diakhaby in the centre of defence, with Goncalo Guedes moving out wide to accommodate the return of Mina in attack.

Valencia possible starting lineup:
Neto; Piccini, Gabriel, Garay, Gaya; Wass, Parejo, Coquelin, Guedes; Mina, Moreno

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Cech; Mustafi, Sokratis, Koscielny; Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Kolasinac; Iwobi; Aubameyang, Lacazette


Head To Head

Thursday's fixture will represent the seventh competitive meeting between the clubs, with Valencia registering three wins in comparison to two victories for Arsenal.

Four of the previous games took place in the Champions League between 2001 and 2003, with Arsenal only prevailing on one of those occasions.

Arsenal have suffered defeat on each of their previous two visits to the Mestalla.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Valencia 2-1 Arsenal

Valencia will fancy their chances of getting the better of Arsenal in Spain, but Arsenal showed against Napoli in the quarter-finals that they are capable of defending a lead away from home. We feel that the visitors will get on the scoresheet, and that could prove decisive come the full-time whistle.


Share this article now:

Who will reach the final of the Europa League - Valencia or Arsenal?

Valencia
Arsenal
Valencia
16.1%
Arsenal
83.9%
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores from the spot during the Premier League game between Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion on May 5, 2019
Read Next:
How Arsenal could line up against Valencia
>

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Championship Playoffs
League One Playoffs
National League Playoffs
Serie A
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Primeira Liga
Scottish Premiership
Scottish Premiership Playoffs
Scottish Championship Playoffs
Scottish League One Playoffs
Scottish League Two Playoffs
NIFL Premiership Europa League Playoffs
Turkish Super Lig
Belgian Pro League Playoffs
Norwegian Eliteserien
Russian Premier League
Swedish Allsvenskan
Swiss Super League
Ukrainian Premier League
Welsh Premier League Playoffs
Segunda Division
Serie B
Major League Soccer
Liga MX Playoffs
Brasileiro
Uruguayan Primera Division
Chinese Super League
European Champions Cup
Women's Super League
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City37312491226995
2Liverpool37297187226594
3Chelsea37218863392471
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs372311365372870
5Arsenal372071070502067
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd37199965521366
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37169124744357
8Everton37158145244853
9Leicester CityLeicester37156165148351
10Watford37148155155-450
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham37147164854-649
12Crystal Palace37137174650-446
13Bournemouth37136185365-1245
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle37119173848-1042
15Burnley37117194465-2140
16Southampton37911174464-2038
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3799193456-2236
RCardiff CityCardiff3794243269-3731
RFulham3775253477-4326
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3736282175-5415

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for £1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for £12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account