Date published: Thursday 18th April 2019 10:19
There has been much talk of Arsenal’s poor away form potentially costing them a place in the Premier League’s top four come the end of the season. However, they had little problem on the road in Naples as they produced a largely untroubled performance to move into the last four of the Europa League on Thursday night.
Despite winning all three of their matches away from the Emirates Stadium in the Europa League group stages this term, the Gunners tasted defeat in the away leg of both their last-32 and last-16 ties. That did not matter, though, as they rescued both ties with impressive performances back on home turf.
This time around they had opened up a two-goal advantage over the second-favourites in their own backyard before taking the confidence of that superb display to ease to a 1-0 victory at Stadio San Paolo on Thursday. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Aaron Ramsey scored both the goals last time Arsenal headed to Italy as they stunned AC Milan 2-0 at the San Siro in the last-16 in 2017-18 – and this was just as impressive.
Napoli lacked the verve and attacking nous that we have come accustomed to in Serie A that has seen them score 61 goals and led them to second position in the Italian top-flight. Despite not forcing Meret into a save early on, it was a comfortable enough start for Arsenal as they largely controlled the opening period thanks to Unai Emery’s brave decision to start both Lacazette and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang up front together. Their energy and work-rate was pinning Napoli back and the Spaniard was clearly looking for that crucial away goal. Arsenal were playing a dangerous game, though, as they looked to be pressing too high at times, allowing Napoli to get in behind.
The first big chance of the match came just after the 20-minute mark when reported Manchester United target Kalidou Koulibaly played a lovely ball around two Gunners defenders – but luckily Petr Cech was there to parry Jose Callejon’s effort to safety. Minutes later they had an even better chance when the club’s top scorer Arkadiusz Milik produced a shocking miss by miscuing a free header wide of the goal.
There was a bigger concern for Arsenal before the interval as Aaron Ramsey pulled up clutching his hamstring before being substituted for Henrikh Mkhitaryan. With eight matches to go, it would be a shame if that was the last of Ramsey in an Arsenal shirt, especially with the professionalism he has demonstrated since signing a pre-contract agreement with Juventus.
How would they deal without their influential Welshman for the remainder of this tie? The answer came moments later when Alexandre Lacazette scored a belter of a free-kick from 30 yards out, even if Meret – who was rooted to his line – should have done better. It was the Frenchman’s first on the road since February at Huddersfield and it couldn’t have come at a much better time for Emery’s men. The goal gave them a comfy 3-0 lead on aggregate and meant the Italians would have to score four goals to progress.
Lacazette has now had a hand in 46 goals in all competitions (33 goals, 13 assists) since moving to Arsenal in August 2017, which is more than any other player. Not only is the France international scoring and creating goals, he is also bagging big goals, with three – compared to Aubameyang’s one – against top-six opposition from open play.
On the partnership between Lacazette and Aubameyang, earlier this month Emery said: “I had at Valencia, Villa and Morientes; (Roberto) Soldado and (Aritz) Aduriz. I had at Sevilla (Kevin) Gameiro and (Carlos) Bacca. I had at Paris Saint-Germain, Cavani and Mbappe. Here I have Aubameyang and ‘Laca’. It’s perfect.”
After the break, Lacazette threaded a pass down the right-hand side for Mkhitaryan to square the ball for Aubameyang – but Meret produced a brilliant point-blank save to deny the Gabon international. Lorenzo Insigne had a decent chance, while Nacho Monreal’s attempted clearance was well kept out of his own net by Cech but that was it. Those were the only two times in the whole second half that the Gunners fans will have been slightly worried about a potential comeback. Napoli’s fightback never came and Arsenal went through to the semi-finals to face Valencia, who beat fellow Spanish side Villarreal 5-1 on aggregate.
The much-maligned defence and Cech should take a lot of credit for their display here as they limited Napoli to two shots on target from 20 shots. This clean sheet was not a one-off though, as it was the Gunners ninth in their last 11 European matches but it will be Lacazette’s goal that will be remembered if they win the competition. The set-piece was the first direct free-kick an Arsenal player has scored in Europe since Thierry Henry did the same against Roma in 2002-03. It was a sucker punch to the gut of the Gli Azzurri as their desperate attempts to climb back up off the canvas were to no avail.
Emery’s outfit join Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Europa, as four English sides (Tottenham and Liverpool in the Champions League) will now appear in semi-finals of major European competitions in the same season for the first time in 35 years. Emery is gradually turning another bang average season for Arsenal into a potentially very good one. Semi-finals of the Europa League and currently fourth in the Premier League. Things are starting to look rosy at the Emirates.
Joe Williams
