Arsenal head into the second leg of the Europa League semi-final against Valencia as favourites to progress.
The Gunners take a 3-1 lead to the Mestalla but they face a difficult task as they travel to a Valencia side fresh from hitting Huesca for six.
Arsenal will be desperate reach the Europa League final having all but missed out on a top four finish, with the competition offering them the chance to compete in next season’s Champions League.
Emery is looking to reach his fourth Europa League final, having won three at Sevilla.
Here’s how our reporters see this tie going:
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Darren Lewis – Valencia 0-2 Arsenal (Agg: 1-5)
Arsenal to win. They’ll make no mistake this close to the final with two predators up front.
Neil McLeman – Valencia 3-2 Arsenal (Agg: 4-5)
it has all gone a bit Arsenal-y across North London with Unai Emery’s side collapsing in the Premier League.
They are the only English side to take a lead into the second leg in Europe in this week of ridiculous results so what could possibly go wrong?
I still reckon both teams will go through for the full English – but it could be nerve-wracking and Arsenal might need an away goal or two from Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to calm nerves in the Mestalla. Valencia have won their last eight home Europa League matches.
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Andy Dunn – Valencia 2-1 Arsenal (Agg: 3-4)
Arsenal’s away form is so uninspiring that is hard to see them winning in Spain but they should just about do enough to scrape through to the final.
John Cross – Valencia 2-0 Arsenal (Agg: 3-3, Valencia win on away goals)
Arsenal are the only team of the four English European semi finals to take a lead into the second leg.Something has got to give after an incredible week for English football. And it could well be Arsenal’s leaky defence.
David McDonnell – Valencia 2-1 Arsenal (Agg: 3-4)
For Arsenal, a two-goal lead is a healthy advantage, but they have shown they remain flakey and inconsistent under Unai Emery, but tonight is the time for them to show nerve and steel to make it to the final.
A goal in Valencia ought to be enough to see Arsenal progress, but as we have seen over the past two nights in the Champions League, nothing can be taken for granted.
