Unnecessary scenes at the end of the game saw Maitland-Niles clash with some Valencia players, and a fracas builds up on the pitch. The Arsenal youngster has received a booking after the whistle has gone, but he will likely not mind too much.
Former Arsenal defender Gabriel has also picked up a card.
90' +1
To the relief of the Valencia players and support, there will only be two minutes added on.
88'
P. Aubameyang has scored a goal for Arsenal! Assist by H. Mkhitaryan.
This has been an accomplished display by Arsenal, who despite a nervy start, have come up with a fine performance. The Europa League really is Emery’s speciality, and he is now going to have another chance to add to his collection of triumphs in this competition.
It was an excellent team move, and Mkhitaryan's pass into Aubameyang was superbly executed.
WHAT A GOAL! AUBAMEYANG GETS HIS HAT-TRICK! That was absolutely sublime from Arsenal! They worked a patient move down the right, Aubameyang exchanging a number of passes with Guendouzi before dummying it for Mkhitaryan, whose throughball is perfectly weighted for the former Borussia Dortmund man to slam home high into the net. It's 4-2 on the night, and 7-3 on aggregate.
86'
Mina looked to have made a good run in behind Arsenal’s defence, but he just mistimed it, and the offside flag duly comes up.
84'
Gaya is the next Valencia player to have a shot at goal, but he drags his effort wide from the edge of the box. Moments later, Arsenal race clear down the other end, and Garay just gets to Aubameyang’s low cross before Mkhitaryan.
80'
M. Guendouzi enters the game and replaces L. Torreira.
A final change for Arsenal. Torreira has gone off, with Guendouzi coming on.
78'
Gameiro is furious, after he lays off the ball and makes a lung-busting run to the back post. It should have been delivered into Valencia’s striker, but instead the play is recycled back to Parejo, whose shot is easily blocked.
76'
Valencia are back on the front foot now, but they must surely know that the tie is beyond them now, barring a complete capitulation by Arsenal.
72'
Santi Mina enters the game and replaces Rodrigo.
Mina, who scored twice against and provided two assists against Huesca, has replaced Rodrigo.
71'
S. Mustafi enters the game and replaces S. Kolašinac.
Ferran Torres enters the game and replaces Gonçalo Guedes.
Arsenal have been forced into another change, with Kolasinac hobbling off. Mustafi comes on, to a warm round of applause from the Valencia fans.
Valencia have made a double change. Guedes has made way for Torres.
Minute
Description
69'
P. Aubameyang has scored a goal for Arsenal! Assist by A. Maitland-Niles.
It was superb play from Maitland-Niles, who got round his man and delivered an inviting cross. Gabriel and Garay were on their heels, but Aubameyang was not, and duly nudged in.
GOAL! 3-2 TO ARSENAL! Surely, that’s the game all over now. Maitland-Niles sends in a low cross, and Aubameyang is on hand at the front post to prod in and make it 6-3 on aggregate to the Gunners. Clinical!
67'
Gameiro very nearly forces his way through a crowd of Arsenal defenders, but his touch just gets away from him. The Gunners get it clear, and Kolasinac goes down with cramp, taking up some valuable seconds, though we do of course have plenty of time left.
65'
Garay sends a venomous long-range strike goalwards, but it flashes wide. Arsenal are holding firm at Mestalla.
62'
H. Mkhitaryan enters the game and replaces M. Özil.
M. Özil gets yellow.
Ozil gets a yellow card for time wasting.
A first Arsenal substitution now sees Ozil – who puts a finger to his lips to silence the angry Valencia faithful – replaced by Mkhitaryan.
60'
Gameiro’s goal will have handed Valencia some hope, but the hosts must score soon, you feel, to really threaten a comeback. With half-an-hour remaining, they need three more goals, without letting another one in at the other end.
58'
K. Gameiro has scored a goal for Valencia!
GOAL! IT’S 2-2! It’s 5-3 on aggregate now, as Gameiro bundles in after initially blocking Wass’ shot. Cech tried his best to get there, but the Frenchman managed to flick it beyond Arsenal’s goalkeeper.
57'
Valencia want a penalty, claiming that Monreal used an arm to block a cross. Their appeals are rightly turned down by the referee, though.
56'
Carlos Soler enters the game and replaces C. Piccini.
Piccini has made way for Soler in what is Valencia's first change.
54'
Guedes started brightly, but has hardly been involved since Aubameyang restored parity. He cuts in from the left and gets a shot off, but Cech is able to watch it wide.
52'
We have seen some epic comebacks this week, but surely now, Arsenal are heading to Baku. Valencia’s frustrations seem to boil over when Rodrigo lunges in on Sokratis but the former Borussia Dortmund man is quickly back to his feet.
50'
A. Lacazette has scored a goal for Arsenal! Assist by L. Torreira.
It was good pressure from Arsenal, and Torreira displayed quick thinking to crisply play in Lacazette, who did the rest.
GOOOAAAALLL!! LACAZETTE MAKES IT 2-1 TO ARSENAL! That really could be the tie over now! Valencia’s defence parted in front of Torreira following Gaya’s slack touch. The midfielder quickly picked his head up and found Lacazette who, after controlling it expertly, spun clear of two defenders and slammed home into the bottom-right corner.
48'
Some early Valencia pressure, as they win a corner that is worked short to Piccini. He tries for goal, but his effort deflects wide off of a team-mate.
46'
No changes for either side at half-time, and we are back up and running!
45' +2
HALF-TIME: VALENCIA 1-1 ARSENAL (2-4 AGG).
45'
There will be a minimum of two minutes added time.
43'
José Gayà gets yellow.
Gaya has been shown a booking for simulation, much to the chagrin of his coach.
42'
After that excellent start to proceedings, Valencia have not been able to recapture their early momentum, and Arsenal are doing well to frustrate their hosts as we edge towards half-time.
38'
E. Garay gets yellow.
The first booking of the game goes Garay’s way, after he scythed down Lacazette. The Argentine is complaining about that decision, but the replays have shown it was a poor tackle.
34'
This time, Aubameyang turns provider for Lacazette, but the Frenchman can’t get a shot off and is forced out of Vaelncia’s area, before then losing possession. Valencia counter at pace – Gameiro and Parejo combining to tee up Guedes, who draws a hefty challenge from Torreira, winning a free-kick 25 yards out.
33'
A slick move from Arsenal sees Ozil thread a clever pass across the width of Valencia’s box. Aubameyang controls it and sets himself, but his eventual shot is a relatively tame one, directed straight at Neto.
28'
Marcelino is patrolling his technical area, gesturing and signalling frantically to his team to regain some authority and up the pressure again. They have already proved themselves capable of carving Arsenal open, but at the moment are letting the visitors have far too much possession.
26'
Xhaka delivers an outswinging corner, which Aubameyang meets completely unmarked. He is stooping and off balance, however, and can only turn his header over the bar.
22'
That goal just struck a dent in the atmosphere for a few moments, and it is the Arsenal fans that can now be heard. Valencia are working it forward patiently, however, and Wass has just sent a close-range effort over after some intricate build-up play.
17'
P. Aubameyang has scored a goal for Arsenal! Assist by A. Lacazette.
Arsenal have been poor so far, but with a partnership like Lacazette and Aubameyang up top, they are always a threat. It was wonderful combination play between the two strikers, who seem to have an almost telepathic connection.
GOAL! AUBAMEYANG MAKES IT 1-1! Well, just as it looked as though Arsenal would get overrun, Emery’s side have sprung to life and delivered what could be a hammer blow to Valencia’s hopes. Lacazette sent a lovely cushioned pass through to Aubameyang, and he made no mistake with an unerring first-time finish on the half-volley.
13'
Valencia are certainly worthy of their lead. They have had Arsenal pinned back for the last five minutes or so, and the Gunners’ defence wilted swiftly under that pressure.
11'
K. Gameiro has scored a goal for Valencia!
VALENCIA GOAL! IT’S 1-0! The hosts are right back in this tie now, and could we be in for another comeback? Rodrigo gets away from his marker and slides a great cross into the six-yard box, where four-time Europa League winner Gameiro is on hand to tuck home.
10'
There were two balls on the pitch for a moment there, but the referee did not seem to spot it. Valencia continue their attack – Rodrigo eventually sending a low strike at Cech, who makes a comfortable save.
6'
A first hint of a threat from Valencia, as Gameiro gets the better of Arsenal’s offside trap and drills in a low cross. Gaya dives to get his head on it, but Koscielny just manages to divert it wide.
3'
We saw early goals in both Champions League ties this week, but so far neither of these sides have made any major inroads into the opposition half. Arsenal enjoy a spell of possession, only for Maitland-Niles to give it away with a sloppy pass. Valencia look to pounce but Rodrigo, too, can’t keep hold of it.
1'
KICK-OFF! At the sound of Danny Makkelie's whistle, Valencia – wearing their white home strip with black socks – get proceedings underway.
Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of the second leg of the Europa League semi-final between Valencia and Arsenal. Stick right here for a blow-by-blow account of all the action!
Arsenal lead 3-1 from the first leg, with strike duo Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on target for the Gunners last week, while Mouctar Diakhaby headed in for Valencia. A 1-1 home draw with Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Sunday all but ended the Gunners’ top four hopes, meaning winning this competition is most likely their only route into the Champions League.
VALENCIA SUBS: Jaume Domenech, Carlos Soler, Ferran Torres, Mouctar Diakhaby, Santi Mina, Toni Lato, Facundo Roncaglia.
VALENCIA (4-4-2): Neto; Cristiano Piccini, Gabriel, Ezequiel Garay, Jose Gaya; Daniel Wass, Daniel Parejo, Francis Coquelin, Goncalo Guedes; Rodrigo Moreno, Kevin Gameiro.
ARSENAL SUBS: Bernd Leno, Mohamed Elneny, Shkodran Mustafi, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Eddie Nketiah, Alex Iwobi, Matteo Guendouzi.
ARSENAL (3-4-1-2): Petr Cech; Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, Sead Kolasinac; Mesut Ozil; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette.
Tottenham and Liverpool won in dramatic fashion to set up an all Premier League Champions League final on June 1, and Arsenal and Chelsea – who welcome Eintracht Frankfurt to Stamford Bridge today – are aiming to repeat that feat in the Europa League. Valencia, though, are sure to present a stern opposition for Unai Emery’s side, especially given that they scored an away goal at Emirates Stadium in the first leg. And as this week has proved, comebacks are most certainly in vogue right now.
We have experienced two amazing games of football over Tuesday and Wednesday. Let’s hope this one lives up to those standards! The teams are out on the pitch, and we’re just moments away from kick-off. The atmosphere at Mestalla is electric!
Marcelino must now instil some confidence back into his side if Valencia are to forge a comeback, with Arsenal having found it far too easy in the last 15 minutes of the first half to simply sit back and play on the counter. Emery, meanwhile, will be urging his side to play safe and sensible football, with a European final – and another shot at Champions League qualification – just 45 minutes away as things stand.
Valencia, meanwhile, will now have to qualify for the Champions League through a top-four LaLiga finish. They currently sit fifth in Spain’s top flight.
While Arsenal’s full focus will now be on that final in Baku, they cannot yet be sure who they will face, as Chelsea and Eintracht Frankfurt are heading for extra-time at Stamford Bridge.
Well, that’s all we have got time for today. Arsenal are the first team into the Europa League final!
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