Arsenal: Cech, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal, Kolasinac, Torreira, Ramsey, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette
Subs: Leno, Mustafi, Elneny, Mkhitaryan, Guendouzi, Iwobi, Suarez
—
Goals from Aaron Ramsey and Lucas Torreira have given Arsenal a good lead to take to the second leg, beating Napoli 2-0 at the Emirates this evening.
Unai Emery welcomed back Laurent Koscielny and Lucas Torreira to his starting line-up, and also recalled Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the attack.
The Gunners started brightly, forcing a couple of early corners. Ramsey saw a shot blocked after a pull back from Kolasinac, then Maitland-Niles’ follow up shot was blocked too. Koscielny had defend a low cross smartly but in the 15th minute we were ahead.
Arsenal worked it from inside their own half, Ozil to Ramsey and back to Ozil, to Lacazette, he found Maitland-Niles in the box who laid it off to the Welshman who finished superbly with his right foot. 1-0.
Torreira was making things happen in midfield, making tackles, and the Urugauyan won the ball twice in the build-up to Arsenal’s second goal. The second time he took it on, turned inside, took a shot which deflected off Koulibaly and wrong-footed the keeper as it went in and doubled the lead. 2-0.
Ozil was causing the Italians problems with his movement, Lacazette mis-kicked when set up by Aubameyang on the edge of the box, and Ramsey tested the keeper after an Ozil free kick fell for him at the back post. An Aubameyang shot from distance saw the keeper fumble it but grab the ball at the second attempt, and the striker had another sight of goal when Maitland-Niles played him in but his attempted chip didn’t fool Merets.
At the other end Rui shot over the bar after a careless pass from Ramsey, and just before half-time there was a real opportunity for Insigne to pull one back but he shot over the bar from the penalty spot. Even then more good Arsenal play saw a half-chance for Ramsey just before the referee blew for the end of the first 45 minutes.
The second period began with the Italians looking much more energised and dangerous, with Koscielny and Torreira making crucial interventions to deny them at key moments. Insigne had the ball in the net but he was rightly given offside, but there were warning signs for Emery’s men.
Cech had to tip a Koulibaly header over the bar, but at the other end Arsenal were still dangerous. A good short corner move ended with Ramsey smashing a shot at goal which the keeper did well to save and from the resulting corner Monreal headed not far over.
The visitors continued to try and find a way to exploit a defence which hasn’t always been secure this season. Monreal and Koscielny had to make clearances, before Carlo Ancelotti brought on Polish striker Milik for Mertens, and Emery made his first changes a minute later with Iwobi and Mkhitaryan replacing Ozil and Lacazette.
Good work down the left again saw Kolasinac cross, the keeper got hands to it, it fell for Maitland-Niles whose shot bounced up towards goal and Meret made an excellent stop to prevent the Gunners going further ahead. It might have proved a very costly miss had Napoli not made a mess of another glorious chance to score. Insigne got down their right hand side, crossed to the far post, Zielinski was there with just a tap in but on the stretch he put it over the bar.
Ramsey caused more problems around the box but Kolasinac couldn’t find the right cross, before we made our final change when Eleny replaced Torreira on 77′. We should have scored again when Mkhitaryan created a glorious chance for Ramsey but somehow the Welshman blasted the ball over the bar from 10 yards out.
Napoli sought a way back into the game, looking for a vital away goal, and Cech had to stand up well to a cross at his near post. Aubameyang had a chance when Mkhitaryan drove towards goal but he blasted his shot into the side netting, and Ounas shot wide when he should have done better.
We went into four minutes of added time, but neither side added to the scoreline. We could have scored more, but so could they, and all in all it’s a good result ahead of the trip to Italy next week.
I only saw highlights of the goals but it seemed we moved the ball quickly and Napoli couldn’t cope with the pace.
yap. but after the second goal we switched off offensively. we made the worst passes or ball controls and I am sure Ramsey scores that third goal in his sleep every night.
happy but would have been happier going with a 3-0 over there. or 4-0. 5-0 ?
Sorry gooner, had to give it a down for the last part, of course we would.
They couldn’t cope with our pressing either!
And that’s how you play a knockout match in Europe. You keep yourself in the tie after the first leg, which we haven’t done in quite a while. An amazing team performance from the boys, who gave it their all. Our best first half this season. Disappointed we didn’t score more, but I’m also glad we didn’t concede. That clean sheet was massive, make no mistake about it. For a 2-0 is much more significant than say a 3-1, as it gives us a real chance to progress if we score in the second leg. Torreira, AMN, Kola, Ozil, Laca… Read more »
Had to watch in a noisy bar with no commentary but we were excellent first half and battled well in the second
I think I love Ozil. Like I’m actually in love with him.
Get in line
Lol
Absolutely huge result. Keeping a clean sheet at home is an absolute Godsend. Bring on the next leg!
This is what happens when we press the ball.
Also nice not to have linesmen against us
Although the laca shot that was saved was falling to Ramsey which was falsely flagged offside. Why flag such decisions if there’s var? Just let the situation play out? I’ll never get it.
There wasn’t VAR
Nice
I don’t know in which country/channel you were watching, but you have to agree that the commentators were just fucking unbearably anti Arsenal. Fuck them bastards.
Aren’t they always
Uganda here and he was very arsenal he could have been Arsene if it hadn’t been for the voice.
I hate the league commentators though.
I had DAZN commentators, Danny Mills was one of them and he was full of praise for the Gunners!
Big clean sheet! BOOM!!!
I suffered through Robbie Savage. Robbie Savage -_-
In Sweden we had the living Arsenal legend Kim Källström commentating in a very pro Cazorla way. Loved it.
“Living Arsenal legend” lol!
I couldn’t make it tonight so I can’t be one to judge, but was there any reason the stands directly in front of the camera were half empty with 15 minutes left tonight?
prawn sandwich brigade 😉
The place was packed, but I’ve never seen so many bullshit half and half scarves in my life. ?
It was not packed. Not even in the slightest.
No not packed and people were leaving with 17 mins to go . Why ?. It was a good game. By the time we got to the end of the 4 mins extra time it was emptying out . That must be horrible for the players. You win walk over to pitch side and what no crowd left. We can’t fill the place for 90 mins. it annoys me. Richard
ps I wonder if it’s because no one wants to listen to Sweet Caroline UH UH UH being plaid after the final whistle.
Bring back Curtis Mayfield, I say.
Cleansheet is important. Could have scored at least two more with the chances we had. But that’s the beauty of the game! Good display overall. Staying up till 3 AM didn’t turn out bad!
We could’ve scored so much more. Untouchable in the first half but we found ourselves knackered in the second with less possession and not enough chemistry. With all that being said, I think we stand a solid chance in the 2nd leg and can make it through.. great goalkeeping from napoli’s keeper, made some fine saves today. I think the squad now knows it’s time for all or nothing
I take the comment by the commentator, “have you ever seen a Carlo Ancelotti team passed so poorly?” as a compliment. Our positioning and discipline was fantastic today. Probably the best I have ever seen it.
I take it more as them being poor, you’re flattering the team if you think Napoli weren’t poor the amount of sloppy giveaways they had, at times not even under pressure.
Everyone knew they were coming into the game low on confidence as well.
I’ll take that result every day of the week. Not that it is impossible for Napoli to beat us on their home turf, but with the possibility of one away goal putting the tie out of reach we are well positioned going into that game.
Great performance, especially first half. Ramsey and Torreira make a huge difference in midfield, as does having Kosc at the back. Just a shame we couldn’t score more on the night. Napoli targeted Monreal a lot, that’s an area I think Emery will have to look at in the second leg.
Monreal coped perfectly with all the bullshit thrown at him, he deserve a bottle of my chilled and don’t forget cech, he too deserve a jugful
Litterally only the second time we’ve seen a Ramsey Torreira double pivot and they were absolutely crucial in our dominance first half…can’t help but feel we’ve missed out on a tremendous partnership there. Let’s hope we can put together something approaching decent away performance to see this one through. Even though it’s 2-0 and they can’t get an away goal now, this tie feels far from over, I think a lot of our lads knew that and were gutted not to get that 3rd goal. Still an excellent performance on its own though. Ramsey, Torreira, Ozil, Maitland-Niles and Koscielny in… Read more »
Exactly my thoughts regarding Ramsey-Torreira partnership :/
Priceless clean sheet, fancy an away goal will see us through.
With every passing game, the Ramsey situation looks like an absolute tragedy.
I get you but Ramsey is playing with some sort remarkable freedom and release since he signed his new contract. He was always good for us but not THIS good apart from that 2014-15 season… I think a good move for him and if he leaves us with some silverware, amazing.
He actually played on similiar level in the second half of last season, although he was rested in quite a lot of league matches towards the end, to be ready for european ties
I think you mean 2013-14 but I get you. He was also very good last year, so much so he won Arsenal player of the season, a ray of light during a very difficult time.
He was indeed – his finishing in particular became stupidly composed … he just became a very cool player. But at the moment he’s on another plane. Personally I think the juventus contract has pushed his confidence through the roof.
Perhaps.. he just *peaking* at 28 (as midfielders do)? and now off on a free. Shocking
Remember: Ramsey wanted to leave. He made a choice and looked at acontract w/a huge pay raise for close to a year refusing to sign it.
This shit happens. And no matter what the fuckwit pundits, or the douchebags on aftv say, Rambo made a choice. Good for him. He’s a is model professional. Giving his all to the end – after giving us 2 FA cups. Let’s just everybody chill out on the whole situation.
His professionalism this season is making everybody forget HE chose not to sign a new lucrative contract that was bigger than everyone else bar Ozil. I will miss him when hes gone but the media narrative is a joke. You would think emery offered him a contract in crayon and told him to sign or fuck off or that Ramsey has been performing like this for seasons.
Why is this the new narrative? Where has this come from? A source more credible than Ornstein? He said the situation was that Aaron believed he would be offered the contract he wanted BY ARSENAL, and that the club unceremoniously ended negotiations and withdrew the offer they had made (which Ramsey was, for reasons none of us actually know, not willing to sign within that specific time). This is consistent with the initial media reports on the issue and explains why Ramsey himself was surprised by the decision. He wanted to stay, just because he was negotiating for a better… Read more »
He had an offer on the table that was second only to Ozil’s. That was from last season and over the summer. He didnt sign for whatever reason. I believe and it looks like he wanted and expected more money. Which is his prerogative and i dont begrudge him for trying to get the best deal for himself. Hes been with us 10 years i dont think his loyalty has ever been in question. I think he valued himself more than Arsenal. The narrative im talking about is the one that he has always performed like this and that Emery… Read more »
I don’t think many, or anyone really, is blaming Emery for the situation. He’s simply inherited a long standing problem where we haven’t been able to sign up our top players to long term contracts, or move them on before their value depreciates. And it’s accepted that it was Arsenal that decided to withdraw the contract, not Ramsey who according to Ornstein was ready to sign it. I won’t speculate on why it took so long to sign it or who briefed Ornstein, but I just want to be clear that this is the information that’s out there. And here… Read more »
Maitland Niles fits this team like a glove now. Love what the young man is doing.
Ainsleave maitland niles
Should have been 5-2 (they also missed two huge sitters) so 2-0 is a good result
A disappointing night. Yes it fucking was. We got into a great position at half time and didn’t build on it. We should have scored at least two more in the second half and killed off the tie. Now we have a nervous 90 minutes in a white-hot Italian stadium next week. Those misses by Monreal and Ramsey in particular could cost us a semi-final place. Napoli were average tonight and should have been seen off. This tie should be over. And why did Emery sub Ozil and Laca? The we both excellent tonight. We were worse without Mesut. I… Read more »
The man who replaced ozil set up two sitters for his teammates.
To quote the great Michael Scott, “Why are you the way that you are?”
classic.
Oh ffs…are you ever happy??!
I feel your frustration, I was so mad at how many build ups we failed, how many times kolasinac couldn’t release the ball quicker, the missed opportunities, aubameyamg etc. But we have the clean sheet by some miracle, and it was not a bad display by any means. Cheer up.
Job’s not done yet but what a result. The boys put in a real shift tonight and hopefully we can recharge for Watford. A bit gutted that we didn’t make more of our chances but happy with the clean sheet!
What you talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?
It was a really nice job, but…
I really hope we won’t loose our appetite for goals next week.
Otherwise we will easily find ourself in trouble again.
…and I hope Emery remembers that game against Barca 2 years ago!
When putting an effort in we’re really a good team with a lot of top class players. We need of course new players this summer, but in my opinion we can improve significantly with small measures. If Sokratis can move his head and see players running behind him he’ll be a much better player, if defence pick up players in the box, Kola to lift his head and aim his final pass inside the box , we’ll improve both offence and defence. This is not finding errors on a good day, but only to highlight that it’s a great potential… Read more »
a bit off topic but is the Arsenal to Uganda tour still on this off season? Tried to surf for any info but in vain. run out of reasons to postpone my wedding this June/ July to August
Is it not Rwanda they are going to? Can’t see it being in the summer as they are playing 4 games in America. Though it cud be at the end of this season. There’s a two week gap between our last PL game and the europa league final on 29th May if we make it.
definitely not to Rwanda. after Gazidis abandoned ship the Uganda tour evaporated. which is a good idea. we can’t generate anything close to value revenue related but damn it, looked like a once in a lifetime chance for us gooners here. still the best supported European club in Africa outside south Africa.
Just like Arsenal’s home and away results have a clear pattern, the post match coverage also have a clear pattern.
After the loss (or maybe draw) away talk about the poor form on the road and slate Arsenal.
After the victory at home, talk about Ramsey leaving and slate Arsenal!
Spot on, and blame it all on Ozil………Martin Keown really is a cunt and that irritating anti-Arsenal commentry does my head in.
Yeah but he’s OUR cunt.
Show some respect for an invincible, mate.
Good start that won us the game. Both sides were rather sloppy in the passing. Some of our finishing was dreadful. We need to grab an early goal next week.
We have a glorious chance to progress to the semi final.
Ain’t nobody like Koscielny! Fucking love this guy! Capitaine Fantastique! Brilliant performance from all the other lads too. Shoud’ve scored 1-2 more but i’m still confident for the 2nd leg.
Absolute soldier
Brilliant performance (especially the 1st half) why can’t we play like this every week???
Because we don’t always start with our best players, that’s why!
Great performance which deserved alot more goals. Only gave them two significant chances over the whole game.
Good result. Probably fair although shame Rambo did not bury that chance for 3-0. Don’t count the chickens. Clean sheet with Kos and without Mustafi – there is a surprise. Abu please hold the ball up occasionally
Had to miss the second half unfortunately but based on first half performance, much better endeavor. Torreira a real bonus, he looked like he was everywhere for us. Great hustle to win that ball then score. Sure its an own goal but if you don’t invest into a shot, you won’t score anyway. Ramsey solid today making great timed run to dart into the box. He accomplishes this with the right support next to him in midfield but also overall with the team in sync. Also good work from Ozil today dropping deep to collect and pass. It was again… Read more »