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What a difference a single week can make. Arsenal has rediscovered its verve to give itself a chance to qualify for the final of the Europa League in Baku at the end of May. The attack must be their best form of defense and their two glittering front lights at the front of the team must be delivered to them to give them a 3-1 advantage to win at Mestalla next week.
What a difference a late goal does too. With the approach of stoppage time, they had the right to worry about a 2-1 lead, a score that was likely to be fraught with difficulties. One last effort has provided the extra help they need to travel to Spain with more confidence.
Arsenal's mission for this season was still to come back by all means in the Champions League and, after a grim week of stumbling after three defeats in the Premier League, without any advantage, Europe came with additional pressure.
If the recent jolts have taught anything to Arsenal, they might as well be cautious, as they certainly can not rely on caution. Wounded by the nine goals conceded in a week, defensive confidence was fragile and Valencia began to target this weakness.
They threatened after Sokratis Papastathopoulos clung to Mouctar Diakhaby and the resulting free kick mark, Arsenal, evaporated. Daniel Parejo's floating ball was whipped by Rodrigo and one way or another, the ball ricocheted off the bar. It should have been a warning. But again, they should be in a state of constant high alert with high bullets.
In his next similar attack, Valencia looted a goal on the outside. The lively corner of Parejo caused panic. The first Papastathopoulos were beaten in the air by Rodrigo and Diakhaby was outnumbered by the number of players, surrounded by Granite Xhaka, Shkodran Mustafi and Alexandre Lacazette. No prize for guessing who showed the most stubborn determination to face the ball, and Diakhaby happily nodded.
Arsenal found himself anxiously overwhelmed as Valencia beat forward. Long-range Parejo's efforts were thwarted by Petr Cech and Ainsley Maitland-Niles was relieved to see his occasional back head unpunished during the follow-up when Gonçalo Guedes rushed inside.
It was the intensity of the occasion and the technique with which Valencia dropped the ball in midfield. It was a difficult challenge for Matteo Guendouzi, the youngster selected in front of Lucas Torreira.
Emery enjoyed excellent home performances in this competition and found a rhythm by putting all his attackers in the mix. Aaron Ramsey's dynamism and leadership have been instrumental in this regard, but since he injured his hamstring in Naples, he can no longer bear more influence on the team. Arsenal should do it the hard way, and they found an answer when their two men, Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, suddenly combined themselves with speed and precision. The Frenchman, inside his half, spun and drove the ball forward for his partner. Aubameyang caught Neto's attention and found a space to watch. He saw Lacazette rush into the surface and the finish was clear in an empty net.
Lacazette was excited and six minutes later he led his team ahead. Xhaka's deep pass from the left offered a tempting invitation, and he left his marker behind him to tilt the ball down, heading for the goal. Neto tried to reach him but could not get enough grip to stop the ball from crossing the line.
Xhaka gave Aubameyang another clear pass, but the striker's instinct proved elusive. Valencia threatened again after the break and was indebted to Mustafi for not chopping and wrapping the ball. All three backs had to be brave. Papastathopoulos harassed and prosecuted. Laurent Koscielny sent a superbly timed header to intercept while Guedes was hiding, looking for an unobstructed view of the goal from close range.
It was a delicate balancing act for Arsenal, who was trying to retain a semblance of defensive calm while seeking additional goals that would be needed to strengthen his advantage for the return match next week in Spain. There was carelessness in the air, as if something could happen.
Lacazette had great opportunities to help his team and claim his hat trick. When Aubameyang danced next to Gabriel and pierced a perfect center, Lacazette misread his head. The gasps intensified when he managed to ruin another chance, aiming for the near pole and allowing Neto to save with his legs.
Cech choked on Kevin Gameiro's feet. The coup de grace fell on Aubameyang, who appeared at the last post to take the center of Sead Kolasinac home. All to play for next week in Valencia.
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