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Unai Emery has made talking while saying absolutely nothing into something of an art form, so Amy Lawrence steered broadly clear of his thoughts and focused on something more interesting in her preview for this one.
Unai Emery is not a man for harking back to the past – and it is not as if he has much time to given the mounting issues of the present – but the prospect of a Europa League tie against Valencia summons one of his most intense football memories.
Five years ago, as manager of Sevilla, he came up against his former team Valencia in the semi-finals. With a 2-0 home advantage from the first leg, his team crumbled at the Mestalla and gave up three goals. It was stoppage time. His team were going out. Valencia’s fans were overjoyed. Then, with one of those startling stings in a sporting tail, Stéphane Mbia headed in the goal that flung everybody’s emotions upside down. Sevilla were suddenly through on away goals and Emery lost himself in overwrought celebrations, charging on to the pitch and enacting a classic from the José Mourinho playbook.
Related: Unai Emery’s reunion with Valencia brings painful memories for Arsenal | Amy Lawrence
Interesting starting XI for Arsenal, then. The omission of Torreira seems bold, particularly given he is apparently fit and Matteo Guendouzi hasn’t started much recently. That said, I always prefer the look of Arsenal with both Aubameyang and Lacazette up front: perhaps that is a sign that Emery is giving this one both barrels.