Alexandre Lacazette has scored four goals in his last eight games for Arsenal
Alexandre Lacazette scored twice as Arsenal came from behind at Emirates Stadium to win the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Valencia.
Mouctar Diakhaby's header put Valencia in front before Lacazette slotted in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's pass.
The Frenchman nodded in Granit Xhaka's cross seven minutes later to make it 2-1 before half-time.
And Aubameyang's late volley ensured Arsenal take a two-goal lead to Spain.
Lacazette should have scored a hat-trick - he fluffed a header from six yards out in the second half and was later denied by goalkeeper Neto on two occasions.
But Arsenal will travel to Valencia for the second leg next Thursday, hoping to avoid a second successive semi-final defeat after they were knocked out by eventual winners Atletico Madrid last year.
Late goal calms the nerves
Arsenal started sloppily in London and Ezequiel Garay's miss from a few yards out was an early warning.
They looked rattled, and things looked bleak for the Gunners when Rodrigo was allowed to head the ball back across goal to set up Diakhaby for the opener.
A loose header from Ainsley Maitland-Niles was almost pounced upon by Goncalo Guedes immediately afterwards but Lacazette's swift equaliser - which came against the run of play - helped settle the nerves.
He started the move himself, providing the through ball for Aubameyang before the Gabonese striker cut it back into the middle and Lacazette fired into an empty net.
The Frenchman was clinical again eight minutes later - powerfully nodding in Xhaka's curling cross at the back post - before Aubameyang's volley bounced off the turf and over the bar.
Valencia still caused Arsenal problems though. Rodrigo and Guedes were pests in attack and Petr Cech was called into action to deny Kevin Gameiro from close range in the second half.
Arsenal were wasteful, too - Lacazette missing two glorious chances before Aubameyang eventually made it 3-1 with a well-timed volley at the back post.
Gunners chasing Champions League spotPierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been involved in eight goals in 10 Europa League appearances this season
Arsenal's hopes of securing Champions League football next season have been lifted by this victory.
Three successive defeats have left Arsenal fifth in the Premier League - one place below Champions League qualification and two points below Chelsea with two games remaining.
Arsenal can of course reach the Champions League by winning this competition, but Chelsea could stand in their way again if they make it to final.
Manager Unai Emery has vast experience in the Europa League, having won it three years in a row with Sevilla in 2014, 2015 and 2016, and he will relish an opportunity to win silverware in his first season in England.
Victory in Spain will also see Arsenal through to their first European final since 2006.
'The tie continues to be 50-50'Unai Emery's Sevilla side knocked Valencia out of the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2014
Arsenal manager Unai Emery on BT Sport: "In the first leg we wanted to get a good result, knowing that it would be difficult. We took our moments and the goals in the first half gave us confidence.
"We wanted to win and not to concede a second goal, but we also had to play. The third goal came at the end and for us it was important, but [the tie] continues to be 50-50. Now we will prepare the same for the second leg because we know it will be very difficult."
Enjoying home advantage - best of the stats
Arsenal have progressed from 37 of their 40 ties in all European competition when winning the first leg, although Valencia were one of the three teams to eliminate them, in the 2000-01 Champions League quarter-final.This is the 28th time Valencia have lost the first leg of a two-legged European tie - they've ended up winning the tie on 11 previous occasions, most recently against Basel in the 2013-14 Europa League.Diakhaby's opener for Valencia was the first home goal Arsenal had conceded in the Europa League since the group stages, ending a run of 460 minutes without conceding.Lacazette became only the third player to score twice in a European semi-final match for Arsenal, after Charlie George in the 1969-70 Fairs Cup and Steve Bould in the 1994-95 Cup Winners' Cup.Aubameyang has been directly involved in 30 goals in his 28 starts at the Emirates in all competitions (23 goals, 7 assists).27 of Lacazette's 35 goals in all competitions for Arsenal have come at the Emirates Stadium (77%).What's next?
Arsenal host Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday, 5 May before travelling to Spain for the second leg of their Europa League tie with Valencia on Thursday.
Valencia travel to Huesca in La Liga on Sunday.
