A place in the Europa League final is up for grabs here, can Arsenal hold onto their lead, or will Valencia fight back and steal it from them? The game is currently in the favour of Arsenal, they are up 3-1 here, and that lead is so big thanks to a late goal at The Emirates that could turn out to be crucial.

They held a 2-1 lead going into the final minutes of the first leg, with the game completely in the balance. However, late on, up stepped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to slot in a third goal and give Arsenal the cushion they deserved from that game. That goal makes a big change here, and forces Valencia to play a more attacking style as they need to score twice, instead of just once. Their away goal is a positive, and that will help their mindset although that is only the case if they keep Arsenal off the scoresheet.

I think the makeup of this second game favours Arsenal, and I think they will score here. They are quick going forward and can counter attack well so don’t be surprised to see them sit back a little and defend what they have, before trying to score on the break when Valencia leave gaps open in defence. I expect Arsenal to sit back, but don’t be surprised to see them take any chances to break that come their way, and if they do that then I fancy them to score here, and really put Valencia up against the wall.

Arsenal Set to Miss Out on Top Four Once Again

A very disappointing draw for Arsenal at the weekend has left it almost impossible for them to get into the top four on the final day of the season. That means the Europa League is their only chance of something that would be seen as success, adding more importance to this game. The Gunners will be back in the Europa League as it stands, although there is a way out of that for them. The winners of this competition will get a place in the Champions League next season, meaning Arsenal are just two games away from that.

The general feeling around the club is that they are right in the middle of a rebuild, and that Unai Emery does have a couple more seasons before he is really challenged on his performance. However, Arsenal are still a big club, and they do have fans with expectations, so success from time to time is needed, even if it is not the big success they desire which would be challenging for a Premier League title.

The top four wasn’t really a necessity this season for the club, but it will be in the future. The big focus on Arsenal is their future right now, but success along the way is not a bad thing. This season as it stands now, assuming Arsenal don’t get into the top four would be seen as a nothing season, not a success but certainly not a failure. However, add a Europa League win to their record and the season would then be seen as a success, and it would give them the financial boost of being in the Champions League next season as they look to challenge the top sides in England over the next couple of seasons.

Valencia vs Arsenal Betting Tips

There is good value on Arsenal here in this game, although it is fair to say that risks are attached. They don’t have to win the game, in fact, they can lose this game and still qualify. This is a position I don’t really like to put myself in when betting, but the odds on offer for an Arsenal win on Thursday night are simply too big to ignore.

Valencia started well at The Emirates, and Arsenal will have to be wary of that strong start from the Spanish side once again. However, after the game settled down, Arsenal looked the better side and they had far more chances. They dominated parts of the second half, and that really was an impressive showing from them.

The game now has an added importance with Arsenal drawing at the weekend against Brighton, but I see that as a positive rather than a negative for them. Valencia have to attack more and more as the game goes on and if The Gunners can weather the early pressure they are likely to feel from the Spanish club then more gaps will appear for them to take advantage of.

I saw nothing from Valencia to make me very worried in the opening leg, and while they have to be respected with home advantage, on their day Unai Emery’s men can perform to a much higher level than their opponents.

Arsenal don’t need to win this, and that is a big risk to take when it comes to backing them. However, the odds on offer make that risk worth taking, this is a good side and they are overpriced for their away game in Valencia.

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