Professional, organised and committed, and everything Unai Emery required was delivered. His players executed the game plan to a T and across the pitch, every Arsenal player won his battles and stuck at the job perfectly. A one nil victory and progression through to another Europa League semi final is all that matters but actually the perfect away performance is certainly worth highlighting too.
A sweet Alex Lacazette free kick in the thirty-sixth minute was the difference between the two sides on the score sheet but the bigger picture is far more impressive. Arsenal's players were at it from the off and were clearly instructed with an Emery-masterclass game plan. Only amounting seven total shots compared to Napoli's twenty but hit the target in four whilst the hosts only tested Cech twice. Possession wise, in a not so typical Arsenal fashion, Emery's men sacrificed most of the ball to do the job. Arsenal has a mere 30% possession, something that may shock a few but going into the game with a two goal cushion already in the bag, Emery's plan was spot on. Solid and organised defending from start to finish cemented the result and whilst Napoli never really looked like scoring, the Gunners did well to not lose the midfield battle and stay ahead in the game.
In a bizarre atmosphere that looked to actually deter the hosts, Napoli went out with a whimper whilst the Gunners progress in spectacular fashion; eleven shots on target across both games compared to Napoli's four, and whilst possession wasn't as dominant, it clearly wasn't needed. An impressive home performance last week followed up by a sound defensive outing in the away leg means that Arsenal march on to play Valencia in the Europa League last four.
Ratings and Talking Points
Unai Emery: 9.5
Emery's highest mark of the season for getting everything absolutely spot on. His workmanlike team meant there was no place for Mesut Ozil and whilst he may not have been happy, the players that were involved executed a tactically astute Emery game plan from start to finish. It was the perfect away performance and only thorough planning from the man in charge could have set up it so well. The back line pretty much picked itself and going with two up top meant there was always pressure on Napoli's defence. The midfield engine room was back to the Xhaka-Torreira combo and the iconic Welshman Ramsey played in the whole very well. He sadly left the field in the first half through injury though. Emery's substitutions were also spot on. In a week that's defining Arsenal's season, Emery didn't only progress in the competition, he smashed Napoli to pieces with a perfectly assembled two leg game plan, and nabbed win away at Watford...picking up three clean sheets on the bounce. Impressive.
Petr Cech: 7
Laurent Koscielny: 8
Sokratis: 7
Nacho Monreal: 7
Maitland-Niles: 7
Lucas Torreira: 7
Granit Xhaka: 7
Sead Kolasinac: 7
Aaron Ramsey: 6
Alex Lacazette: 8.5
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 7
Subs:
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 6
Mohamed Elneny: 5.5
Alex Iwobi: 5.5
Ramsey's Hamstring Disaster
The midfield maestro started the game well and played the loose whole role nicely for the entire first half before going down with what looks to be another hamstring issue. His dodgy hamstring seems to twang at least once or twice a season and although he brings an absolute masterclass most weeks and knows the club very well, I can't help but think that his exit is a good opportunity for the club to find someone who's available all season long. Not quite as bad as Wilshere's injury record but for a player who commands a big salary and is as good as he is, Ramsey has rarely been available for a complete season. Leg breaks cannot be helped of course but a suspect hamstring clearly plagues him continuously and although the club will miss his on-pitch performances, desire and pride for the badge, they certainly won't miss the off-pitch unavailability.
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