Napoli 0-1 (agg 0-3) Arsenal: Unai Emery’s men reach Europa League semi-finals with ease

Napoli 0-1 (agg 0-3) Arsenal: Unai Emery’s men reach Europa League semi-finals with ease
Arsenal reached the Europa League semi-finals for a second straight season with a deserved win over Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo.After winning the first leg at 2-0 at home, the Gunners went to Naples knowing their fate was down to them.4

Arsenal celebrate their Europa League triumph over the Serie A giants

Alexandre Lacazette’s free-kick nine minutes before half-time secured a 1-0 victory and a 3-0 aggregate success to set up a semi-final clash with Valencia.With plenty of question marks surrounding their away form, Arsenal have now won at Watford and Napoli in the space of three days to return to the Premier League top four and advance in Europe.They fell at the semi-final stage to Atletico Madrid a year ago and LaLiga opposition again stand in their way of reaching the showpiece final.This game may have lacked the drama of Tottenham’s stunning Champions League win over Manchester City or the goalfest at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea saw off a spirited Slavia Prague comeback to reach their own Europa League semi-final, but Arsenal got the job done. They were the better team across both legs and will now face Emery’s former club Valencia for a place in this season’s final in Baku on May 29, the Spaniard once again proving he is the master of this competition.No manager has won more knockout games in the Europa League than the Arsenal head coach, who won three consecutive titles while at Sevilla.Emery said Arsenal would go for it and he stuck to his word as both Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang started in attack, the visitors starting the game on the front-foot looking for a goal to all-but kill off the tie.But, in committing men forward, they presented Napoli with the game’s first decent chance as Aubameyang lost possession and the hosts broke, working the ball into Jose Callejon whose shot was well-saved by the legs of Petr Cech.4

Cech made a good save to deny Callejon after Aubameyang lost the ball

Arkadiusz Milik, recalled by Carlo Ancelotti having been on the bench for the first leg, finished well only to be denied by the offside flag before he headed wide when picked out in front of Cech’s goal.Arsenal suffered a blow as Aaron Ramsey, who opened the scoring at the Emirates Stadium last week, was forced off just after the half-hour mark with a hamstring problem.But they would soon be celebrating as Lacazette dusted himself off having been fouled 30 yards from goal and curled a free-kick over the wall, badly wrong-footing Alex Meret in the Napoli goal to put Arsenal ahead on the night and in charge of the tie.4

Lacazette’s goal effectively killed the tie

The lead should have been doubled soon after the break, Henrikh Mkhitaryan – on for the injured Ramsey – playing in Aubameyang, only for Meret to make a superb stop to deny the Gabon striker.Napoli were kept at arm’s length by a determined Arsenal side, showing much more guile and threat than they mustered in beating Watford’s 10-men 1-0 on Monday night.There was an occasional threat to Arsenal’s lead but Cech’s most difficult save came as a cross bounced off team-mate Nacho Monreal and had to be kept out.For all the criticism often aimed at the Arsenal defence, they have now kept six clean sheets in their last seven games and managed to keep consecutive clean sheets away from home across all competitions for the first time since January 2017.4

Unai Emery has masterminded an excellent Europa League triumph over Napoli

They will face Valencia at home on May 2 and will hope to head to the Mestalla with a similar lead which they travelled to Napoli with – all with the intention of going a step further than last season and reaching the final.

Europa League semi-finals

Arsenal vs ValenciaEintracht Frankfurt vs Chelsea

---

Arsenal transfer news: Unai Emery makes Real Madrid star claim ARSENAL boss Unai Emery has strongly denied claims Keylor Navas was closing in on a move to the Emirates.
Arsenal linked to two goalies: Valencia's Neto & Keylor Navas

---

Manchester United news: Arsenal fan found guilty of assaulting Chris Smalling during pitch invasion An Arsenal fan who ran onto the pitch against Manchester United and shoved Chris Smalling has pleaded guilty to assault. Gary Cooper was arrested after running talkSPORT 7 hours ago Also reported by •Shoot
Arsenal fan accused of assaulting Man Utd defender Chris

---

Dan James inspired an amazing second-half comeback as Swansea reached the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 4-1 win over 10-man Brentford. The Bees deservedly led thanks to Ollie Watkins' 28th-minute strike but Swansea levelled through goalkeeper Luke Daniels' own goal before James, Bersant Celina and George Byers all scored.

---

Liverpool team news: The expected line-up vs Bayern Munich Jurgen Klopp has a near full-strength side to choose from but will be sweating on the fitness of Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Milner
Team news: Confirmed Liverpool line-up v Bayern Munich

---

Jose Mourinho: Former Man Utd manager reveals next move as axed boss eyes history JOSE MOURINHO has set his sights on a job in France as he ponders a sensational return to management.
Mourinho targets June return to club management - FOX Sports Asia

---

Dec 22, 2018 · Real Madrid are the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup champions, as they beat Al Ain 4-1 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The victory means Real have been crowned the best club team on the planet in each of the
Real Madrid beats Al Ain to win 4th FIFA World Club Cup

---

Transfer news and gossip: Marco Arnautovic huge offer as Aaron Ramsey 'agrees deal' We recap the top Premier League transfer stories of the day so far as clubs near decision time on targets
Transfer news and football gossip: Aaron Ramsey could leave

---

Charlie Austin has been charged by the Football Association for making an "abusive and/or insulting" gesture as he was substituted during Southampton's defeat to Manchester City.
~ Charlie Austin: Southampton striker charged by Football

---

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has said Kepa Arrizabalaga remains his No. 1 goalkeeper, despite being on the bench for the Blues' 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. The Italian believes
Chelsea Have No Plans to Fine Kepa Arrizabalaga After Carabao

---

United are expected to sign a central defender this summer and while Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld has been linked with a move, recent reports have linked the Red Devils with a move for Leonardo

---

West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice has confirmed he intends to commit his future in international football to England, rather than the Republic of Ireland. The 20-year-old was born in London but played for the Republic of Ireland from the Under-16 side upwards, making three senior appearances in friendly matches.
West Ham's Declan Rice chooses to play for England over

---

Fleetwood Town manager Joey Barton is being investigated by South Yorkshire police for allegedly assaulting Barnsley boss Daniel Stendel after today's League One match.
UPDATE: Joey Barton allowed to leave Oakwell by police after

---

STEVE CLARKE has admitted his ambition to become Scotland manager "at some stage". The Kilmarnock boss has been linked with the vacant national team post after Alex McLeish was sacked.
Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke still keen on managing Scotland

---

Manchester City star Bernardo Silva showed his class on and off the pitch in Saturday's win over Tottenham, declining his Man of the Match award and giving it to Phil What a classy gesture!
Silva hands his Man of the Match award to Foden after Spurs win

---

Premier League Golden Glove: 2018/19 winner and most clean

---