Europa League: 4 conclusions as Arsenal knock out Valencia
What a rollercoaster ride it has been for Arsenal this season! The fact that they are now the only team to beat Valencia at home alongside Getafe this season shows us how incredible the improvement has been for Arsenal under Unai Emery. They certainly do not play the same beautiful brand of football as they did under Arsene Wenger, but they have been more efficient and clinical this season as compared to the last.
A 7-3 aggregate score for the Gunners saw them seal an impressive win against Valencia last night, and Emery’s men are ready to face their city rivals Chelsea in Baku, which would be an all English final.
Valencia is a team who rarely concedes a goal or two at home, but Arsenal’s deadly duo of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette made sure they kept zero records for Valencia to be proud of, scoring four past the Spanish side at Mestalla. So let’s take a look at the four conclusions as Arsenal knocked out Valencia from the Europa League.
#4 The 3-man defense formation suits Arsenal best
Unai Emery has tried plenty of tactical variations since day one and he still looks a bit unsettled with which formation should he continue with for the rest of his Arsenal career. According to me, it has to be the 3-4-1-2 formation. This not only helps Arsenal to be strong and composed at the back but also helps Emery squeeze in two of his best players in the starting eleven; Aubameyang and Lacazette. Neither of the players likes to play as wide wingers, and therefore, this formation suits Arsenal the best.
Coming back on the defensive part, the Gunners had to protect a 2-goal lead against Valencia in the second leg; a lead they earned in the first leg, and though Arsenal conceded two, the trio of Laurent Koscielny, Sokratis, and Nacho Monreal did a commendable job in keeping Valencia at bay. Plenty of blocked shots, tackles, interceptions, and a couple of mouth-watering goals sum up the night for Arsenal.