Unai Emery & Co. made sure that Arsenal thrashed out Valencia to get into their first European finals since 2006 and our Player of the season Alexandre Lacazette believes that Unai Emery has taken Arsenal to the “next level” even if they fail to beat long time rivals Chelsea in the Europa League finals later this month.
Arsenal secured a safe flight to BAKU after beating Valencia 4-2 on the night at Mestalla (something even the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona have failed to do this season) and 7-3 on aggregate.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s hat-trick was the highlight of the night, as Lacazette also struck in another big game ti make sure Arsenal get some cushion instead of late nerves.
Matter if fact, Kevin Gameiro struck early in the big night in Spain with may predicting another big European comebacks but Arsenal never showed a piece of doubt.
Last season, Arsenal made through till the semi-finale of Europa League though were knocked out by Antoine Greizemann and his Atletico Madrid in Arsene Wenger’s last season with the men in Red and Whites.
Three time Europa League winner and the leagues most successful manager was drafted in as a replacement for Arsene Wenger with one goal in mind – Champions League.
Arsenal, after missing out couple of seasons on trot in Europes most elite league are hungry to get back in the Champions League.
Finishing in the top four was one route, which now seems long gone after their 1-1 draw against Brighton, winning the Europa League is the only way they have left.
And Lacazette feels Arsenal have already improved under Unai Emery’s management.
“That’s what the club saw him as the coach to help the team go to the next step and he did because we go to the final in his first season,” Lacazette said of Emery.
“I hope it is going to be a great final for us and we will prepare for it. It is really important. The Champions League is a big competition.
“Last season, we failed at the semi-finals and this season we wanted to be better.”
“We knew in the Premier League we played bad in the last month so we know it was a great opportunity to go to the Champions League, but as well it is about trophies. The club needs to win a trophy, the players as well.”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette both have managed an aggregate tally of 48 goals this season including last eight of Arsenal’s Europa League goals.
In fact, Aubameyang & Lacazette are two of the most deadly duos on and off the pitch but Lacazette admitted there is no competition going on between them about who gets the ball back into the net more and he would be happy if the Gabonese finish with more goals than him.
“No, of course not,” Laca replied when he was asked if there was a friendly rivalry to be the top goalscorer.
“We just want to help the team. He can score 10 more goals than me, it is OK.
“Now it has been one year and a half we played together. I knew Auba before and we talk a lot, not only about football. When you like someone, you talk a lot and of course on the pitch it is easier.”
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