Why Arsenal boss Unai Emery will order his players to attack Valencia in Europa League semi-final second leg

Emery's players will go out on the front foot against Valencia
Getty Images

Arsenal will go on the attack and try and score against Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium on Thursday night despite leading their Europa League semi-final tie 3-1.

Alexandre Lacazette scored twice before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang added a third as the Gunners came from behind to win their first-leg clash with Valencia at the Emirates Stadium last week.

Despite the fact the Spanish side now need to score twice without reply to progress to the final in Baku, Emery - who formerly managed Valencia - has told his Arsenal set out to win the game.

"Our idea is to play the match thinking to win, after you win you need to score," Emery told reporters at the Mestalla.

"They are very organised, [they have a] strong defence but also they need to score, they have attacking players with big quality, big combination and possibility to score here.

"Our idea is to do both - defensively be strong but take our chances offensively but, above all, it depends on how we are on the pitch. We need to be solid and mostly compact."

Arsenal's 1-1 draw at home to Brighton on Sunday means qualification to the Champions League via the Premier League looks slim, which gives the Europa League a whole new level of importance for the north Londoners.

And Emery said: "We started with two possibilities, one with Premier League and other through Europa League. But we are speaking about Europa League that it's one title but we want to play for the possibility to take one title and for the second is the Champions League.

"We know it'll be difficult. We finish in the Premier League with no possibility, but we are here with a big ambition, strong mentality and full motivation. I want to enjoy it, in matches like this, semi-finals, [against] a difficult team, away, with one important target after that, it's positive for us."

When it was put to him he may have a point to prove against his former side, Emery said: "It's not the condition for me, I have won trophies in the past and present, [I am] positive and working to take our work and move ahead for our individual objectives.

In Pictures | Arsenal vs Valencia, Europa League | 02/05/2019

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"I worked in the past and in the present in a very demanding [club], I give my players that mentality. It's not feeling pressure, I demand positivity.

"I was born in the north, San Sebastian, I played there, second division in Spain, I used my heart in all different situations. I appreciate my work and enjoyed it here, I have a lot of friends, I have a lot of good memories here.

"It's a very big team, they have good players and a good coach. The past for me is one more in my career, learn, take friends, after I worked in another teams like a coach and thinking the same.

"Here, Valencia, is amazing, to play a semi-final is awesome. I prefer to play the final here but it's a semi-final its about enjoying with my team, the atmosphere."

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