Three wins from 5 games against Arsenal

This Thursday's UEFA Europa League semifinal first leg will be the sixth meeting between Valencia CF and Arsenal in continental competition. Thus far, it is VCF who have the superior record against the English side.

The first encounter in official action was on May 14th, 1980, in the European Cup Winners Cup final. The game, held in Brussels, Belgium, ended in a stalemate, but it would be Valencia CF who lifted the trophy after winning a penalty shootout.

Four of the five matches between the LaLiga and Premier League outfits have taken place in the Champions League, starting with the campaign in which VCF reached the final for the second consecutive season. They met the Gunners in the 2000/01 quarter finals, and bested them on away goals (2-1 at Highbury and 1-0 at Mestalla the respective results).

Two seasons later their paths would cross in the second group phase of the competition, and after a 0-0 draw in London, a brace from John Carew earned a 2-1 victory in Valencia for VCF.

The team have been training hard in the runup to Thursday night's reunion with Arsenal, and will play them twice over the next fortnight. At stake is a spot in the final in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 29th.