Arsenal 3-1 Valencia: Alexandre Lacazette double helps give Gunners the edge in Europa League semi-final

Arsenal 3-1 Valencia: Alexandre Lacazette double helps give Gunners the edge in Europa League semi-final
Alexandre Lacazette scored twice as Arsenal came from behind to beat Valencia 3-1 on Thursday.The Gunners take the advantage in their Europa League semi-final as the French striker cancelled out Mouctar Diakhaby’s opener.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then scored late on to give them a crucial goal to give them a two goal lead going into the second legGetty3

Alexandre Lacazette scores Arsenal’s second goal

Arsenal made four changes as Mesut Ozil returned to the starting line-up along with Laurent Koscielny, Matteo Guendouzi and Petr Cech.Former Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin missed out for Valencia as he serves a suspension – as fellow ex-Gunner Gabriel lined up in the visitors’ defence.Carlos Soler, Mouctar Diakhaby, Ezequiel Garay, Cristiano Piccini were recalled by Marcelino following a 1-0 home defeat to Eibar on Sunday.Arsenal found themselves behind inside 11 minutes – gifting an away goal for the Spanish side.After a promising start, the hosts should have fallen behind in the ninth minute when Ezequiel Garay inexplicably blazed over Jose Gaya’s low cross from two yards.Getty3

Mouctar Diakhaby opens the scoring for Valencia

But they only had to wait two minutes to break the deadlock as Mouctar Diakhaby nodded home from close range after Rodrigo headed Daniel Parejo’s corner back across goal.Arsenal should have fallen further behind when a Parejo drive from range was parried by Cech, which Ainsley Maitland-Niles attempted to head back to the home goalkeeper with Rodrigo intercepting but could only chip over the crossbar.The hosts drew level in the 18th minute when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang beat the offside trap and cut inside the penalty area with Neto rushing out to close the angle, before the striker stabbed a pass for Alexandre Lacazette to pass into an empty net.Getty3

Alexandre Lacazette has his shot blocked

Emery’s side turned the match on its head when Lacazette netted his second in the 26th minute.Arsenal worked down the left wing and Sead Kolasinac curled in a great delivery for the French striker to direct a powerful header into the ground and in off the post, which Neto tried to keep out only for referee Clement Turpin to signal that the ball cross the line.Aubameyang narrowly fired over when Granit Xhaka curled a fine cross to the far post for the striker to volley first time. Arsenal dictated possession but Valencia continued to threat on the counter attack, with neither side creating any real clearcut chances in the first 15 minutes of the second half.Lacazette should have completed his hat-trick in the 63rd minute when Aubameyang found half a yard down the left wing to clip a cross into the box.Facundo Roncaglia misjudged the flight of ball inside the six-yard box but Lacazette did not anticipate the miss and spurned the chance.He had the perfect chance to redeem himself four minutes later when Xhaka’s shot deflected off Aubameyang and into his path, but Neto produced a superb save at his near post with his feet from six yards.Aubameyang ensured Arssenal will take a two-goal advantage to Spain for their return fixture as Valencia failed to deal with a deflected Lacazette shot, which worked its way to the left wing for Kolasinac to cross to the far post for the striker to volley home.

---

Hugo Lloris saved Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's penalty in injury time. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saw a last-minute penalty saved by Hugo Lloris to cost Arsenal victory and ensure Tottenham retained a crucial advantage over their arch-rivals in the battle for a top four place after a dramatic north London derby at Wembley.
Lloris saves late PK, draw for Tottenham against Arsenal

---

Controversial Fulham striker Aboubakar Kamara has agreed a loan move to Turkish top-flight side Yeni Malatyaspor. Kamara was arrested at the Fulham training ground last week on suspicion of actual
Fulham confirm Kamara exit | ClubCall.com

---

Some Liverpool fans turned on Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool were held by Manchester United, with some even demanding the German be sacked. The Premier League clash at Old Trafford failed to really
Some incensed Liverpool fans want Jurgen Klopp SACKED after

---

Manchester City will be competing alongside West Ham, Newcastle and Wolves in this summer's Premier League Asia Trophy in China. The pre-season tournament is held every two years in Asia and was
Wolves to take part in Asia Trophy this summer - Read Wolves

---

Ronaldo's lawyers say they will sue Germany's Der Spiegel magazine, which originally reported the allegations. The magazine wrote that Kathryn Mayorga had claimed Ronaldo, 33, raped her in a hotel room in Las Vegas. Ms Mayorga, 34, is reported to have filed a rape report with Las Vegas police shortly after the alleged incident.

---

Man Utd now only Premier League ever-present to concede less than 1,000 goals after Chelsea ship two against Burnley Everton have conceded the most goals since the inception of the Premier League
Premier League records and statistics - Wikipedia

---

Everton striker Cenk Tosun admits that he came close to signing for Crystal Palace during the summer transfer window - but admits now that the decision to hold off on leaving Besiktas until
Everton will not allow Tosun to leave until they sign a

---

Chelsea defender David Luiz has been slammed by Vinnie Jones after Sunday's mauling at Manchester City, with the Brazilian accused of 'hiding' when the going gets tough for the Blues. The
News - Page 964 - sharpeze.com

---

Football fans stunned by shock Sergio Ramos statistic as Real Madrid captain completes career first Written by: fpnews Posted on: December 30, 2018 Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos might be in his 16th senior season but he's still creating career firsts - and surprising ones at that.
Football fans stunned by shock Sergio Ramos statistic as

---

Arsenal may have found a new sporting director if news making the rounds in the media are anything to go by. According to widespread belief, the Gunners will bring in a former midfielder in Edu to fill in the void sometimes around July as he has made an agreement in principle to resume duty before the commencement of the new season.
Arsenal sporting director latest: Andoni Zubizarreta and Edu

---

If Lionel Messi is the fifth best player in the world this year, the top four must be seriously special. Lionel Messi makes mockery of Ballon d'Or vote with derby exhibition as Barcelona go
Fifa Ballon d'Or - live: Lionel Messi wins record fifth

---

Football : Manchester City have agreed a fee with Chelsea for the sale of midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips. City rejected a £20million offer from Chelsea for the England winger last week but

---