Arsenal will be keen to bounce back from their weekend slump at Everton as they welcome Napoli to the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.
The Gunners were sloppy against the Toffees as they went down to a 1-0 defeat – putting a dent in their hopes of finishing in the top four.
5
Arsenal’s hopes of reaching the top four suffered a setback
However, winning the Europa League is another route into next season’s Champions League and given Unai Emery’s aptitude for this competition (winning it three years running at Sevilla 2014-16), Arsenal will certainly be taking this game very seriously.
But in order to reach the semi-finals, they must beat one of the favourites to win the competition in Napoli, who very nearly made it out of their Champions League group where they were pitted against Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool.
Emery is aware of the danger Napoli possess with world-class players including Manchester United target Kalidou Koulibaly and Dries Mertens.
5
Koulibaly and Mertens will be looking to end Arsenal’s Europa League campaign
In fact, Emery has said his side need to win the first leg especially due to Arsenal’s poor away record in the knockout stages this season which has seen them lose to BATE Borisov and Rennes.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set for a recall to the Arsenal starting XI having only been on the bench for his side’s last two matches after being ill with a virus.
He looks set to join Alexandre Lacazette in attack while Mesut Ozil could miss out again with Aaron Ramsey set to return.
Juventus-bound Ramsey was only fit enough to play the second-half of their defeat at Goodison Park due to a groin problem.
5
Emery admits Arsenal need to win the first leg
Laurent Koscielny (foot) and Granit Xhaka (groin) face late fitness tests having not featured at the weekend.
So how might Arsenal line up for their first match against the Serie A giants? Below you can see talkSPORT.com’s predicted XI.
5
Is this the side Emery will field against the Neapolitans?
A 3-4-1-2 formation could be the tactics Emery goes for as he looks to go for the win but also have plenty of defenders back for Napoli’s dangerous attack.
Petr Cech starts in goal as he’s Arsenal’s cup keeper and he may well be joined by a defensive three of Shkodran Mustafi, Laurent Kosicleny and Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
Meanwhile, wing-backs Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Sead Kolasinac will be able to support the defenders when the visitors are on the ball but will also give Arsenal width going forward.
LATEST FOOTBALL NEWS
The Gunners missed Granit Xhaka’s passing at Everton so if he’s fit enough, he is likely to play and Lucas Torreira is in contention to make a timely return in what is arguably Arsenal’s biggest game of the season so far.
Aaron Ramsey has performed well this season so will surely play and Emery could be tempted to play both Aubameyang and Lacazette as the two forwards work well together.
This means the inconsistent Mesut Ozil may miss out as defensive duties will be a requirement in this match and the No.10 just cannot be relied on to do that.
5
Could Ozil be dropped by Emery again?
The 'motivational' pre-match team talk Manchester City
Eden Hazard 'agrees Real Madrid contract' - Chelsea ace set for move after key development • EDEN HAZARD has agreed to join Real Madrid this summer in a huge blow to Chelsea's plans.
NewsNow: Liverpool Transfer News & Rumours news
Liverpool vs Chelsea: Demba Ba mocks Steven Gerrard over THAT
Aaron Ramsey's Arsenal career over as hamstring injury rules
Mauricio Pochettino said he felt like crying after Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium finally saw some football. The 62,000-seat arena, which was due to open last summer, held its first official
New Tottenham stadium: Mauricio Pochettino says 'our dream
Andy Carroll, Samir Nasri and Adrian will leave West Ham when their contracts expire in late June, the Premier League club have confirmed.. Carroll, who joined West Ham on loan from Liverpool in
Andy Carroll, Adrian and Samir Nasri to leave West Ham in
Leicester City 0-1 Newcastle United: Rafa Benitez's side edge
DANNY DRINKWATER has been revealed as an unlikely Chelsea "dressing-room clown" by Ruben Loftus-Cheek. making sure Blues players have a laugh in the dressing BLUES NEWS All the latest
Flop Danny Drinkwater helping Chelsea team out as 'dressing
Fulham have named Scott Parker as permanent manager for their return to the Championship. The former club captain replaced Claudio Ranieri in February and has impressed the club's hierarchy
Fulham appoint Scott Parker as permanent manager after
Liverpool vs Barcelona: Wonderkid Rhian Brewster could play in Champions League semi-final due to Reds' injury problems. Heung-min Son set to draw huge TV figures in Far East for Champions
Liverpool vs Barcelona: Wonderkid Rhian Brewster could play
How Barcelona could line up with Antoine Griezmann, Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong, but without Philippe Coutinho The LaLiga champions are set to be a force in Europe once again next season
How Barcelona could line up with Antoine Griezmann, Matthijs
Transfer news and gossip column: Man United to PAY Alexis Sanchez to leave, Gareth Bale to reject Tottenham return, Leroy Sane set for Man City exit? talkSPORT.com rounds up all the latest transfer news and football gossip from Wednesday's papers and online… Real Madrid have made a move for France midfielder Paul Pogba, with Manchester United..
Latest Tottenham Hotspur News and Transfers - Spurs News
No comments:
Post a Comment