As we head out to Naples with a 2-0 lead, the team news looks good according to the official Arsenal website.
They claim that, along with long term absentees Bellerin, Welbeck and Rob Holding, the only other omission will be Denis Suarez. As much as we’d like to see the guy given a proper run out, this is no massive blow to our chances of progressing to the semi-finals of Europes premier cup competition. Suarez reportedly has a groin issue, and won’t be someone who will register a huge miss, he has yet to make an impact since joining on loan from Barcelona.
Unai Emery is not planning to sit back on our 2-0 lead either, quoted by The Mirror as saying:
“They have a lot of players with a big quality to push against us and give us a lot of problems but we also have the players to fight against them with our quality…”
Should we get through the tie in Naples, we’d face either Villarreal or Valencia in the semi-final, Valencia holding a 3-1 advantage going into the second leg tonight. The semi-final, should we get there would then take place on the 2nd and 9th of May with the final on the 29th of May in Baku, Azerbaijan. Frankfurt/Benfica, Chelsea/Slavia Prague making up the other side of the draw.
Following this Europa League game we go back to Premier League action, with a huge chance to progress towards a top three finish with a home game against Crystal Palace at The Emirates this Sunday at 4pm a game you won’t be able to see on TV.
