Arsenal to face Chelsea in all-English Europa League final

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Arsenal will face Chelsea in another all-English final after both London clubs made it through to the Europa League final on Thursday.

Kepa Arrizabalaga was Chelsea's hero as the Spanish goalkeeper sent his side to the Europa League final with two penalty saves in a dramatic 4-3 shoot-out win against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

Chelsea took the lead in the semi-final second leg thanks to Ruben Loftus-Cheek's first-half strike at Chelsea's home Stamford Bridge stadium.

Kepa Arrizabalaga (L) of Chelsea celebrates after saving a penalty from Martin Hinteregger of Eintracht Frankfurt at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, UK, May 9, 2019. /VCG Photo

But Luka Jovic equalized soon after the interval as a tense clash finished 1-1 after extra time and 2-2 on aggregate.

Cesar Azpilicueta's penalty was saved by Kevin Trapp in the shootout, but Kepa kept out Martin Hinteregger's effort and then turned away Goncalo Paciencia before Eden Hazard slotted home the decisive kick to spark wild celebrations.

It was a sweet moment of redemption for Kepa after he was widely criticized for his astonishing mutiny in the League Cup final against Manchester City when he refused to be substituted before the Blues lost on penalties.

Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (L) celebrates with teammates after their 4-2 win over Valencia CF at Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Spain, May 9, 2019. /VCG Photo

Meanwhile, a hat-trick from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal ended Valencia's hopes of another dramatic European comeback on Thursday.

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

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

There will be a London derby for the final in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 29 and, for the first time in history, four English teams competing in both the Champions League and Europa League finals, with Liverpool and Spurs meeting in Madrid, Spain, three days later.

Source(s): AFP