Arsenal will welcome Napoli at the Emirates on Thursday in the Europa League .The Gunners will certainly be under pressure after the recent defeat against Everton at Goodison Park. Unai Emery’s side were in an advantageous position in the League Table of the Premier League .However, after the defeat against Everton, the Gunners have lost that advantage. Now, they have to fight hard against the other sides to make the top four finish possible at the end of this season.
Napoli will also be in some amount of pressure as they are going to play this match after a draw and a defeat in Serie A. Napoli are currently situated at the second position in Serie A. However, they have no chance to go to the top of the table in this season as Juventus are 20 points ahead of them in Serie A. So, the Italian side will certainly wish to win this European competition to have a trophy in their cabinet in this season.
On the other hand, the road will not be easy for the Gunners against the mighty Napoli side. However, they will also be determined to win this competition. If the Gunners are able to win the Europa League and they finish outside top four in the Premier League, they will be playing in the Champions League next season. So, there is huge importance of this quarter final clash of Europa League on Thursday.
Team News :
Arsenal :
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was not in the starting lineup of the Gunners in the match against Everton. So, he will certainly be in the first team of the Gunners in the match against Napoli in the Europa League. Aaron Ramsey was also not in the starting eleven of Arsenal in their last Premier League match against Everton. So, he is also a top contender to start this match for the Gunners. Alex Iwobi and Alexandre Lacazette will be there upfront alongside Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. Maitland Niles and Kolasniac will play as two wingbacks for the Gunners on Thursday. Sokratis Papastathopoulos is banned for two matches in the Premier League. So, he will certainly start against Napoli tonight. Laurent Koscielny is having an injury. So, he will probably not be playing in this match for the Gunners. Granit Xhaka might also miss the match for the Gunners with an injury problem. Bernd Leno will be under the bars for the Gunners in this match.
Napoli :
The two star centre-backs of Napoli, Makismovic and Koulibaly are back in the first team after recovering from injury problems. They will be the key for the Italian side in this match. Dries Mertens, Insigne and Callejon are also going to play key role for Napoli against the Gunners in the Europa League match on Thursday.
Predicted Starting Eleven :
Arsenal : (3-4-1-2)
Goalkeeper : Leno
Defenders : Mustafi, Sokratis, Monreal
MMdfielders : Maitland-Niles, Ramsey, Guendouzi, Kolasinac.
Forwards : Iwobi; Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Napoli :
Goalkeeper : Meret
Defenders : Malcuit, Maksimovic, Koulibaly, Rui.
Midfielders : Callejon, Allan, Fabian Ruiz, Zielinski.
Forwards : Insigne, Mertens.
My Predicted Scoreline :
Arsenal 2-1 Napoli.
