With Chelsea and Eintracht Frankfurt still deadlocked, the goalkeeper is asked who he would like to meet in the final. “I have no preference. The team who manges to go to the final deserves to go there … but I think it would be a remarkable end to my career if I were to play a European final against Chelsea.”
First leg :
ARSENAL 3-1 VALENCIA
Second Leg
VALENCIA 2-4 ARSENAL.
Aggregate :
ARSENAL 7-4 CHELSEA
He is also asked whether he is not retiring too early, at the age of 37. “I feel like maybe I could play another two years … but I prefer to retire two years too early than one year too late. I want to retire on my own terms. My last dream was to play a final with the Arsenal, now I have to win it.”
As for the final, he says: “The key is to play your game. People think ‘oh, we’re in a final, we have to do something special.” No, you keep calm, be brave and play your best game.”
Aubameyang on fire as Arsenal are through to Europa League final! Catch the extended highlights of Valencia 2-4 Arsenal (aggregate 3-7)!
VALENCIA 2-4 ARSENAL
Score by :
- Kevin Gameiro 11″ 58″
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 17″ 69″ 88″
- Alexandre Lacazette 50″
Arsenal have swaggered into the Europa League final! For nearly 20 minutes things looked a little ropey for them here, but once Aubameyang struck a wonderful equaliser, they were the better team and produced an uncharacteristically accomplished away performance from a side who have been rotten on the road in the Premier League. Their attacking duo of Aubameyang and Lacazette were sensational, especially the Gabonese, who plundered a masterful hat-trick to crown a fine individual and collective performance.
Arsenal have won a place in the final of the Europa League after beating Valencia 4-2 in the second leg of their semi-final at the Mestalla.
Unai Emery’s men took a 3-1 advantage to Spain after their win against the La Liga side last week at the Emirates, but Valencia’s early strike through Kevin Gameiro gave the hosts hope of a comeback.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalised after 17 minutes to restore Arsenal’s two-goal aggregate advantage before Alexandre Lacazette scored their fifth of the tie, but Gameiro scored his second to make it 5-3 to Arsenal on aggregate before Aubameyang’s hat-trick goal sealed it.
Full video gol highlights Valencia 2-4 Arsenal (aggregate 3-7)