Valencia’s domestic season is hanging by a thread, three points out of the final Champions League spot with two matches to go. The Europa League becomes all the more important with that in mind. They come into the second leg 3-1 down, but they have a crucial away goal. Valencia’s home advantage will be necessary and it could be enough.
Arsenal’s domestic season is completely over. They have choked away a top four spot, so they need to win this competition or the entire season is a failure. They go in 3-1 up, but they are atrocious away from home, losing their last two away matches by a total of 6-1. They’ll need to get over their poor away form or else the season will be a disaster.
Team News
Valencia will be missing Geoffrey Kondogbia and Denis Cheryshev through long term injuries, according to transfermarkt.com.
Arsenal have their own injuries and will be missing Aaron Ramsey, Dennis Suarez, Rob Holding, Danny Welbeck and Hector Bellerin through injury, according to Physioroom.com.
Key Players
Valencia: Rodrigo
Valencia have a number of good strikers, but Rodrigo has the pace to really take advantage of Arsenal’s backline. While the Gunners will look to avoid letting the match get stretched, there is a good chance it will happen eventually and the Spaniard will look to take advantage. Valencia need to get off to a good start and Rodrigo will need to be a part of it.
Arsenal: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Arsenal go into this match with a lead, but they will be looking to grab an away goal of their own. As it currently stands, they go out with a 2-0 defeat. An away goal would make them much safer and their main goal threat is Aubameyang. While Lacazette bagged two goals in the first leg, Aubameyang created one and scored one for himself. He reached 20 league goals for the Gunners on Sunday and will look to extend his good run in Arsenal’s biggest game of the season.
Prediction
This feels like a match that Valencia win, but not by enough for them to advance to the final. Arsenal have been terrible away from home, but they have generally been good in the big games.
