7.20pm: Do you back the Gunners? Lee Dixon is not sold on this side, I regret to inform you.
“Speaking after last wee’s tie, he said: I played for the club for 15 years, I am Arsenal through and through and I love the club, but I say things how they are because that is my job as a pundit – and I don’t trust this Gunners side.
“You cannot trust them, because you don’t know what is coming next.”
7.05pm: Partial to a stat? Sweet, here’s some from our friends at Opta.
- Arsenal have never been knocked out of a European tie in which they won the first leg by two or more goals, progressing from all 27
- Valencia are looking to reach their first major European final since the 2004 UEFA Cup
- Valencia have won both of their two previous home games against Arsenal
- Valencia have lost just one of their last 21 home games in all competitions
- Arsenal manager Unai Emery has won his last 18 Europa League knockout ties, last being eliminated from the competition in the 2011-12 semi-finals with Valencia
6.50pm: TEAM NEWS IS IN! Lacazette and Aubameyang start for the Gunners. Emery has, quite rightly, gone full strength.
Valencia: Neto; Piccini, Gabriel, Garay, Gaya; Wass, Coquelin, Parejo; Guedes, Rodrigo, Gameiro.
Subs: Domenech, Roncaglia, Soler, Diakhaby, Lato, Ferran Torres, Santi Mina
Arsenal: Cech; Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Torreira, Kolasinac; Ozil; Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Subs: Leno, Mustafi, Elneny, Guendouzi, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Nketiah.
6.40pm: Unai Emery has won the competition three times previously – and on the trot, for that matter – so his pedigree in the Europa League is undeniable.
But more than just the riches of any trophy in his cabinet, Emery and Arsenal now need to win the competition to get out of it next year following their draw with Brighton on the weekend, which rendered them to a finish outside the top four.
“We started with two possibilities to qualify for the Champions League,” Emery said in his pre-match address. “The league is one. And the Europa League is another.
“We know it is going to be difficult but we have to have a strong mentality. I want to enjoy it. A difficult team away. It is all positive for us.”
6.30pm: GOOD EVENING young and all, ladies and gentleman, esteemed readers of the web… to another terrible away performance from Arsen… To the Europa League semi-final second leg between Arsenal and Valencia.
The Gunners head into the tie at the iconic Mestalla stadium with a healthy 3-1 lead thanks to their deadly duo up top (where would they be without them?).
Valencia will be fired up for this one though, aware of Arsenal’s terrible away form and seeking their first Europa League final since 2004.
We’ll be bringing you team news and pre-match build-up shortly, so strap in for the ride.