Unai Emery Says Valencia Tie Still 50-50 Even After 3-1 Victory

Arsenal manager, Unai Emery believes that the semifinal draw of the Europa League is still at a 50-50 win probability, despite the 3-1 victory Arsenal collected over Valencia in the first leg.

The Gunners were taken by surprise with an opening goal from the visitors but they immediately responded with two of their own. In the end, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made the victory convincing with a close-range volley in the 90th minute.

“Our idea and my thoughts now is it will continue to be very difficult,” Emery said in the post-match conference.

“The second leg away, 50-50, and it’s a good result at home the first leg, but the second leg is going to be very difficult and maybe different. I considered for two teams, 50-50 for this season.

“We can be happy today and also proud of our supporters. Here we felt this support for us in 90 minutes and also proud of the players because at 1-0 it is not easy to be calm and come back to get the result with this team, it’s not normal for Valencia to concede three goals.

“Valencia are a very good team so for this reason, I am very proud of our work, but there it is going to be very difficult.

“It will be very tough, which is normal, they are a team with the habit of playing semi-finals and with the possibility to come back. I want to play and prepare our strategies. It’s one semi-final to play and to enjoy working.

“We will prepare the match thinking this round is 50-50 for both and we need also to play there thinking to win, to score. Also to take our moment in attack, control with the ball and possession but they are going to feel strong with their supporters.”

“I hope Koscielny will be okay,” Emery said of the Gunners’ captain. “For Sunday I don’t know, but for the second leg.

“He was very tired, ran back in the second half 50 metres with the sprint but it’s normal to be tired or struggling.

“I preferred to change him to give also this 10 minutes to Nacho Monreal after his small injuries to help us and to do these minutes for Laurent Koscielny.”

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