Napoli 0-1 Arsenal – Europa League QF Second Leg (0-3 agg.)

The eleven were up for it

It took a beauty from Lacazette to secure an excellent win in the San Paolo stadium.

Napoli was anticipated to be strong, forward, and pressing, as they needed to be.

But they weren’t.

If anything, I was surprised at how limp they were. They didn’t really fashion many chances, and we were fairly comfortable against them.

They didn’t show the energy required and were slow and lethargic in their overall play.

After our good friends reached a CL semi (and following in our footsteps after a decade or so), we did well to get to the EL semi for two years in succession.

Over the two legs, we defended well and limited their attackers. Insigne is a well-regarded forward, but he didn’t affect much here. Koulibaly is a lauded centre-back, but he too was pretty anonymous. Napoli really, and under the guidance of the great Carlo Ancelotti, was not up to their heightened billing.

The first half started with a muted tone, and both sides being cautious and looking to break. Neither side really troubled that much, but we were able to get the ball into their final third without really troubling them.

Napoli had a breakaway, where Cech saved from close range.

However, we scored with a wicked free-kick from Lacazette after he was fouled thirty yards out.

He managed to curl the ball around the wall and the keeper, and it was one-nil to the Arsenal.

Laca dead-ball specialist

The second half was pretty much the same as the first, with Napoli not really threatening, and us managing the game capably.

Auba missed a golden chance to make it two just after half-time, and he should have scored really. He just had to place it to the keeper’s side, but didn’t convert for a player of his quality.

The hostility of the San Paolo stadium didn’t faze us at all, and we now face a semi with Valencia from La Liga. “El Jefe” Senor Emery once managed them, it would be an intriguing reunion once we do.

A negative of this fine win was that Aaron Ramsey sustained an injury, and given that it looked like his hamstring, he’d be out for a few weeks. Hopefully, he can be back for the final, should we make it of course.

Impressions

Shame to see Ramsey go off. Hopefully, he can help us win this competition before he plays in Italy full-time

This was comfortable, professional, and nowhere near as taxing as I thought it would be.

I must say that Napoli seemingly is overhyped a bit. They didn’t offer much, and it was telling since they lacked urgency in a major manner.

If they got an early goal, then it could have been difficult. But they didn’t majorly threaten, and we were able to contain them. Carlo Ancelotti is one of the great managers of the modern era, alongside Mourinho, Guardiola, and Allegri. He would be disappointed at the lack of heart and creativity displayed here, given his tenure, experiences, and successes.

Is our “away from home curse” lifting? Who knows? I do feel though that Emery’s tactics were spot on, and it was a mix of this and Napoli’s ineptitude that gained us the victory.

Seemingly, the gnashing of teeth about getting them in the draw wasn’t warranted.

Cech did well in coming back in and made a good save from a Napoli breakaway mid-way in the first-half.

The Man

The defenders coped well with their attackers, with Koscielny bossing things as usual. Sokratis looked strong also, and Monreal at times was exposed, but they didn’t offer anything of note.

The midfield balance was able, and all of them were able to win the ball and carry it forward.

Laca scored a great free-kick of course, whilst Auba despite missing a golden chance in the opening second-half was using his pace to hassle their defence.

The crowd in the San Paolo were also much muted, like their team, and I feel we’re proven a few points in this game. If we can play like this vs. Leicester City, Wolves, and Burnley away, then who knows, we could get some more away league wins.

With Valencia, we have old boy Gabriel Paulista returning, but then I don’t think we should be angelic towards him or the southern Spanish side (bad puns notwithstanding).  Francis Coquelin isn’t available, and of course, is another old boy of ours, but then we should have the quality to defeat Valencia over two legs.

So since our good friends are in their first European semi-final since the 1980s, we’ve reached two semis in Europe back to back. Though I feel this time, we can get to a final, and go one better than we did last season. Though if that lot win the Champions League (the thought is sickening…) I strongly believe we can slap them up in the UEFA Super Cup – that’s if we win this competition of course.

Still, Valencia is first, and then potentially Chelsea or Frankfurt.

Cech – 7

Koscielny – 9

Sokratis – 8

Monreal – 7

Maitland-Niles – 7

Kolasinac – 7

Ramsey – 6

Torreira – 7

Xhaka – 6

Lacazette – 9

Aubameyang – 7

Iwobi – 7

Mkhitaryan – 5

Elneny – 6

Emery – 8 – Got his tactics spot on in both legs, and hopefully we can now rectify our poor away form in the league.

Man of the match

Kos the BOSS

Laurent Koscielny – Our captain was immense and stellar. It’s a shame that he’s reaching the end of his career now, since I feel he gets too unappreciated. Surely one of our best buys – and defenders – in the PL-era.

Marble Halls

MarbleHallsTV is an Arsenal social media account on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube. Been a Gooner since the 90s, inspired by Ian Wright, then Bergkamp, Vieira, Henry, Pires, Campbell, Rosicky, Koscielny, Ozil and Sanchez. A digital marketer/entrpreneur by profession, born in UK living in the Americas now.