Valencia vs Arsenal: Odds, Live Stream, TV Info for Europa League
Arsenal welcome Valencia
to the Emirates Stadium on Thursday for the first leg of their UEFA
Europa League semi-final.The Gunners head into the game having lost
their last three matches in the Premier League, and the defeats have
left them two points outside the UEFA Champions League places with two
games to play.
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Victory in the UEFA Europa League looks to be their best chance of
qualifying for next season's Champions League, but they will have to get
past La Liga opposition first.Valencia are in a similar position to Arsenal
in their league campaign. Marcelino's men are sixth, three points off
fourth place, and have tasted defeat in their last two outings.
Date: Thursday, May 2
Time: 8 p.m. BST, 3 p.m. ET
TV Info: BT Sport 2 (UK), UniMas (U.S.)
Live Stream: BT Sport Live (UK), B/R Live (U.S.)
Match Odds (via Oddschecker): Arsenal 10-11, Draw 13-5, Valencia 14-5
Match Preview
Emery knows exactly what it takes to win the Europa League, as he lifted
the trophy three times during his time in charge of Sevilla.
Arsenal will need to
improve if they are to snap out of their poor form. However, they can
take confidence from their home record in the competition:
The Gunners won five and drew one of their six group games, and they
have gone on to beat BATE Borisov, Rennes and Napoli in the knockout
stages.
Emery does have some injury problems for Thursday's match. He will be
without Aaron Ramsey because of a hamstring injury, but Mesut Ozil and
Nacho Monreal are expected to be fit, per Phil Spencer and Tashan
Deniran-Alleyne at Football.London.
Arsenal's hopes of
progressing may lie with forwards Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang, although neither player is in prolific form.
Lacazette has one goal in his last six games and just two in the tournament this season, while Aubameyang has two in seven.
NAPLES, ITALY - APRIL 18: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg match between S.S.C. Napoli and Arsenal at Stadio San Paolo on April 18, 2019 in Naples, Italy. (Photo
Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Valencia will be without former Arsenal
midfielder Francis Coquelin for the first leg through suspension.
However, ex-Gunner Gabriel Paulista is available to face his old team.
The Brazilian has said he is "sure that we are going to score" against Arsenal in an interview with Spanish television's El Tercer Tiempo programme (h/t Valencia's official website).
Marcelino's side have shrugged off a slow start to finish the season
strongly. Los Che had been beaten just once in 22 games before suffering
defeats to Atletico Madrid and Eibar in their last two outings.
Captain Dani Parejo will look to take charge at the Emirates and has been in good form:
Statman Dave @StatmanDave
Dani Parejo’s first half vs.
Atletico Madrid by numbers: 90% pass accuracy 3 successful take-ons 2
fouls suffered 1 interception 1 tackle won So underrated. 🇪🇸🎯
https://t.co/2vLkDzJ9Yt
Valencia also possess a mean defence. Only Atletico have conceded fewer goals than Los Che in the Spanish top flight this season.
They are also in their centenary year and will be hopeful of ending the
season on a high by adding to their rich history in European
competition:
