London calling - in Baku: Aubameyang hat-trick takes Arsenal into Chelsea showdown

AFP  |  Valencia 

Arsenal will play Chelsea in the final after a hat-trick ended Valencia's hopes of another dramatic European comeback on Thursday.

Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, made the perfect start at Mestalla when finished at the back post but goals from and left the home side needing four in 40 minutes.

Gameiro scored again, sparking hopes of a revival to trump even the efforts of and this week, before hit his second and then completed a brilliant hat-trick to seal a 4-2 win, 7-3 on aggregate.

There will be a derby for the final in on May 29 and, for the first time in history, four English teams competing in both the and finals, with and Spurs meeting in three days later.

It also keeps alive Arsenal's chance of securing a place in the next season and, realistically, their last chance, given they need to overturn three points and an eight-goal swing on in the this weekend.

"We couldn't get the through the league, but this is another way," said

"Our objective is clearly to go to but also this is a trophy. It will not be easy." had been relying on the for Champions League qualification too, given they sit three points behind Getafe, who face a demoralised on Sunday, with two games left in

But over the two legs, Marcelino's side could have few complaints. They were second best at and defensively frantic here.

Arsenal, usually so fragile away from home, picked them off with ease as Aubameyang and Lacazette, boasting 48 goals between them this season, proved themselves to be a first-class attack in a second-tier competition.

"Auba was unbelievable tonight," told BT Sport.

"Congratulations to Arsenal," said

"They had a bigger punch."

-- Pain for --

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There will also be no Spanish team in either European final for the first time since 2013, and only the second time in 10 years.

made a brilliant start as headed wide at the near post and Goncalo Guedes fired over, with playing for time as early as the fifth minute in the hope of a chance for breath.

Instead, Arsenal conceded, caught upfield after shot at Neto, who rolled out to launch the counter-attack. Rodrigo swept wide to Guedes and ran ahead of him, receiving and firing to the back post, where Gameiro slid in.

Valencia looked like they could score six let alone the one more required, only for Arsenal to find an equaliser against the run of play.

Cech punted downfield and Lacazette flicked on, with Aubameyang nipping in and, before his opponents could recover, driving into the bottom corner.

The rest of the half was high on intensity but low on quality as Valencia struggled to reboot. Aubameyang shot at Neto and Lacazette's whipped effort clipped the outside of the post.

Half-time should have been timely for the hosts but it was Arsenal that scored shortly after.

Dani Parejo's careless pass put them in trouble before Gaya was outmuscled. found Lacazette, who spun out of the clutches of and buried the ball into the corner.

The tie looked done, Valencia needing four in 40 minutes, but they got one back eight minutes later, Gameiro diverting Rodrigo's shot in after had cut back. Valencia believed again but only briefly because Aubameyang struck again. Maitland-Niles ghosted past Guedes and crossed to the near post, where Aubameyang was too quick for

Some of Valencia's fans headed for the exits and even more followed when Aubameyang lashed another shot into the roof of the net for his third, and Arsenal's fourth.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Fri, May 10 2019. 09:31 IST