Petr Cech described this as the “perfect end” to his career as his former club Chelsea reached the Europa League final 45 minutes after Arsenal had done the same, while Alexandre Lacazette called Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang “unbelievable” following the superb hat-trick that carried Unai Emery’s side to Baku. Cech now has the chance to finish his 22-year career with another major trophy, the end delayed for another three weeks. “You have to be brave, keep calm and play your best game [in the final]. Every single round I went and thought this could be the last game. I’m glad they weren’t. I could play ice hockey, play the drums, and just see what comes,” he said. First though he has one more game to play, thanks to Aubameyang and Lacazette, who were a level above everyone else in a 4-2 victory at Mestalla, 7-3 on aggregate. Afterwards, Aubameyang admitted the pair had worked on their partnership. “We have talked a lot about our relationship and it is a pleasure to play with him, above all when you win games like this,” he said. “We have learned from last season and we didn’t make the same mistakes this time.” Lacazette added: “We reacted well to going behind and we knew we had to score a minimum of one goal tonight. Auba was unbelievable with an incredible hat-trick, so thanks to him. We’ve played badly in the Premier League during the last month and now we have to use this opportunity. We want to play in the Champions League next season and we want the trophy.” Emery said he was proud of “every single one” of his players, and praised his strikers not only for their goals but their work rate. He likened this performance to Arsenal’s away at Napoli in the previous round, and their place in the final gives them the chance to win the third European trophy in their history, after the 1970 Fairs Cup and the 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup. “These two matches were amazing,” the Arsenal manager said. “The mentality for these two matches, how we respond against two big, big teams, was perfect. Today we showed everybody our character and also our capacity to be together and struggle.” “They are very, very good strikers,” Emery said of Aubameyang and Lacazette. “I am proud of them, how they worked defensively. There are big players, good strikers, but when the commitment is like today defensively, [when they] work to help us, it is amazing. Their attacking moments also came because other players created chances for them to score, so the work from every player was perfect. Not one team this year has scored four goals against Valencia. Only one time, against Atlético Madrid, have they [even] conceded three goals and we did that last week as well. It’s a very good team, a difficult team, and today we showed we can do that.” The Valencia manager, Marcelino, congratulated Arsenal, who he admitted had been superior over the two legs and praised their strikers: “They had maybe nine chances and they scored seven of them. That’s an extremely high percentage.”<doc-sep>Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech is relishing playing his former club Chelsea in the Europa League final, which could make for a "remarkable end" to his glittering career. He helped his side reach the final in Baku on May 29 with a thumping 7-3 aggregate victory over Valencia on Thursday, while Chelsea saw off Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties to set up an all-London showdown. - Cox: Aubameyang flashes European credentials with hat trick - Arsenal ratings: Perfect '10' for Aubameyang against Valencia - Chelsea vs. Arsenal: When is the Europa League final? - Johnson: How Prem clubs' European qualification could play out "It would be a remarkable end to my career if I play a European final against my former team," Cech, who made 333 appearances for Chelsea between 2004 and 2015, told BT Sport. "You have days when you play well and you think you could continue but I've made the decision to retire with a lot of thought. I could possibly go on another two years but I'd rather retire too early than too late. I wanted to do it on my terms." Cech, who started the season as the club's No. 1 but lost his place to Bernd Leno, has played in every Europa League knockout round, keeping two clean sheets against Napoli in the quarterfinals. With Arsenal all but out of the running for a top-four finish in the Premier League -- they require an eight-goal swing and for fourth-placed Tottenham to lose -- manager Unai Emery must decide whether to give Cech an extra 90 minutes of football in the final league match to prepare for Baku. "With all my experience I can compensate for the match rhythm with my preparation," said the 36-year-old former Czech international, who announced in January that he would retire at the end of the season. "The key is always how you prepare in training and I always behave the same whether I am starting or on the bench. I always feel confident that I'm ready to play. "The last dream was to play this European final and it has come true. Now the dream is to win it."<doc-sep>ARSENAL fans are demanding Petr Cech start the Europa League final against Chelsea ahead of Bernd Leno. The goalkeeper is retiring at the end of the season, and Gooners want the 36-year-old to be given the perfect send-off. 2 Arsenal fans are desperate for Petr Cech to start against Chelsea in the Europa League final Credit: Getty It would be no surprise to see the Czech stopper handed the gloves for the finale - he has played 10 times in the competition this season. First-choice keeper Leno has featured three times along the way. In a SunSport poll, a whopping 64 per cent of readers want Cech to start the final in Baku. Considering Leno has impressed between the sticks this season, the 36 per cent backing for the German is a little surprising. But if Cech starts the final, Gunners supporters will be hoping he doesn't have to face any penalties. The veteran has saved just ONE of 17 spot-kicks this season in all competitions, excluding shootouts. He has saved just five of 37 in his career, a success rate of 13.5 per cent. CECH BETTER SAVE RATE But in Leno, the alternative, is only marginally better. The 27-year-old hasn't saved ANY of the seven spot-kicks he has faced in the Premier League, but his career success rate is better than Cech's. He has stopped nine of 46 attempts hitting the back of the net during regulation time - a 19.6 per cent success rate. So if the game goes to a penalty shoot-out, there wouldn't be much to choose between who would be the best foil for the Gunners against Chelsea. But Cech, who is releasing a song when he retires, has experience with Arsenal of beating the Blues, who of course he used to play for. He started for Arsenal in the 2017 Community Shield, which went to a shoot-out. But he didn't save any penalties - after Gary Cahill scored Thibaut Courtois blazed over and Alvaro Morata hit the post. Arsenal triumphed 4-1 on spot-kicks after the game finished 1-1. 2 Bernd Leno has played just three games for Arsenal in the Europa League this season Credit: AFP<doc-sep>
Petr Cech is relishing the prospect of ending his playing career by facing former club Chelsea in the final of the Europa League. The 36-year-old is retiring at the end of the season and is now set to end his distinguished career against the team he made 333 appearances for in 11 years. Cech has played throughout Arsenal's European campaign and helped them seal their place in Baku with a 7-3 aggregate victory over Valencia. Petr Cech is looking forward to the 'perfect' ending of his playing career against Chelsea He admits it will be a 'perfect' end to his career against Chelsea, where he won both the Champions League and Europa League. 'For me it is a perfect way to finish my career with a final and against my ex-team,' he told BT Sport. 'It's spectacular for me and I hope to be able to win as well. That's what I want to do. I want to win the cup for Arsenal and finish my career.' The final in Baku offers the prospect of Cech facing the club he is set to rejoin, after Sportsmail reported in January that Chelsea are set to offer him a route back to Stamford Bridge in an ambassadorial role, or a coaching position, potentially within the club's academy. The goalkeeper helped Arsenal into the Europa League final with victory over Valencia Cech played 333 times for Chelsea in 11 years at Stamford Bridge before joining the Gunners He admitted that hanging up his gloves is the best decision for him: 'You have days when you play well and you think you could continue but I've made the decision to retire with a lot of thought. 'I could possibly go on another two years but I'd rather retire too early than too late. I wanted to do it on my terms. 'With all my experience I can compensate for the match rhythm with my preparation. 'The key is always how you prepare in training and I always behave the same whether I am starting or on the bench. 'I always feel confident that I'm ready to play. The last dream was to play this European final and it has come true. Now the dream is to win it.' Cech joined Arsenal from Chelsea in 2015 and has lifted two FA Cups in four years at the Emirates Stadium.