Tres Amigos: Valencia’s firing squad to gun down Arsenal
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Arsenal host Valenciain the first-leg of the Europa League semi-finals tonight.
The Gunners have an impressive home record and are 19/20 to make it count again, but Valencia are no mugs and have ex-Reds Gabriel Paulista and Francis Coquelin in their ranks.
Los Che are 14/5 to steal the win – but who could be the men to make it happen?
Stick around as we run through los chicos that Arsenal fans should be worried about…
Gabriel Paulista
The former Gunners defender has said he has ‘nothing toprove to Arsenal anymore’ and he’s ready to defend the Valencia badge.
Gabriel had an up and down two year spell at the EmiratesStadium, but has come on leaps and bounds back in La Liga.
The Brazilian’s consistency in 27 appearances this season issignificantly greater than his time in an Gunners shirt.
But he may just have to play the best game of his Valenciacareer to keep out Arsenal’s exciting strike-force.
Goncalo Guedes
A player who is equally comfortable out wide or down themiddle. Guedes has become the main man at theMestalla since his permanent arrival in the summer.
He’s netted three times in this competition, including twogoals in the away win over Villarreal in the quarter-finals.
The 22-year-old is 9/2 anytime to score later, which, with Arsenal’s horrible away form could help Valencia to the final.
Kevin Gameiro
Gameiro has real pedigree in this competition – scoring thepenalty-shoot out winner in 2014 and a crucial goal in the 2016 victory forSevilla too.
He picked up his fourth Europa League medal with AtleticoMadrid last season, helping the side bear Arsenal in the semis. So simplyhaving him in the team could be good omen for the Spanish side.
The 31-year-old is 3/1 to bag anytime and 6/1 to score in a Valencia win. The lively Frenchman will need to be kept on a short leash if Arsenal are to come away with a positive result.
View the latest Arsenal v Valencia odds.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
