Arsenal slipped up against Everton in their hunt for a top four spot last time out. The Gunners lost 1-0 to the Toffees and have fallen out of the Champions League places, but the north London club's attention turns to the Europa League this Thursday and the visit of Italian giants Napoli. Unai Emery will be buoyed by some returning faces and no doubt looking forward to demonstrating his managerial prowess in a competition he's had some serious success in in the past. Arsenal trained at London Colney on Wednesday ahead of the first leg of their quarter-final - here's five talking points from the session. 1. Granit Xhaka returns to training The Switzerland international has missed Arsenal's past two matches with injury but could return to the starting XI this Thursday. Xhaka did train away from the first team ahead of the Everton defeat but wasn't deemed match-fit to feature and was a big miss for Arsenal. 2. And so is Laurent Koscielny The French centre-back has been out of action … [Read more...] about 5 things we noticed as Arsenal train ahead of Napoli Europa League clash
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EUROPA LEAGUE: Arsenal boss Unai Emery and Alexandre Lacazette open up ahead of Napoli at the Emirates
new PUBLISHED: 16:10 10 April 2019 | UPDATED: 16:10 10 April 2019 Layth Yousif at London Colney Arsenal manager Unai Emery PA Wire/PA Images Unai Emery and Alex Lacazette faced the media on Wednesday to discuss Arsenal’s crucial Europa League quarter-final first leg clash against Serie A’s Napoli. Read on for every word from the boadcast media section. Arsenal manager Unai Emery gestures on the touchlineOn team news…UE: Good afternoon. We are going to assess tomorrow. Granit and Laurent are improving and they today with us, but I would rather wait for tomorrow morning to decide.Arsenal manager Unai Emery during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium (pic Adam Davy/PA)on Lucas Torreira…UE: For me and for us, to have every player available to play and then afterwards decide. We’re going to play important moments in the Premier League and the Europa League. Some players will be injured, some suspended, but now … [Read more...] about EUROPA LEAGUE: Arsenal boss Unai Emery and Alexandre Lacazette open up ahead of Napoli at the Emirates
Arsenal given injury scare ahead of crunch Europa League showdown
Arsenal manager Unai Emery has revealed sickness has kept Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of his starting XI recently - but the striker could return to the line-up against Napoli. The Gunners take on their Italian counterparts in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final double-header on Thursday night. Aubameyang has had to settle for a place on the bench in his side’s last two matches, having struggled with illness. Emery confirmed the setback on Wednesday, revealing his star striker is taking antibiotics, and remains hopeful he will fully recover ahead of the showdown. “He had a small problem and he has been taking antibiotics because he is sick,” said Emery. “That is the reason he didn't start the last two matches. For tomorrow he’s getting better and can start.” Emery recently hailed his "perfect" strike duo of Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, even though he admits he doesn't need to pair them together all the time. The duo are … [Read more...] about Arsenal given injury scare ahead of crunch Europa League showdown
Arsenal press conference LIVE as Emery talks ahead of crunch Europa League clash
Arsenal go head-to-head with Napoli in the first leg of their tricky Europa League quarter-final showdown on Thursday night. The North Londoners head into the Emirates clash on the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Everton at the weekend. That loss made it 15 consecutive top-flight away matches without a clean sheet for the first time since February 1985. But Unai Emery's team have a chance to turn their attention away from the Premier League when their Italian rivals visit the capital. And the Spaniard will speak to the media on Wednesday afternoon ahead of the European showdown. As ever, Mirror Sport will bring you all the pre-match build-up as it happens... 12:11 Emery provides fitness update Unai Emery is hoping Aaron Ramsey is fit to start against Napoli - but faces major fitness doubts over two other key players. Gunners boss Emery is sweating on the fitness of Laurent Koscielny and Granit Xhaka who both missed Sunday’s defeat at Everton . Ramsey was on the bench … [Read more...] about Arsenal press conference LIVE as Emery talks ahead of crunch Europa League clash
City must chase Europa League even if it causes friction
While the House of Commons and the rest of the nation turns itself inside out over whether it wants to be in Europe or not, there is currently a similar debate among Leicester City fans. After last Saturday’s hugely enjoyable win over Bournemouth the possibility of a place in the Europa League suddenly came into sharp focus as City drew level on points with seventh-placed Wolves. Although Wolves beat Manchester United, and Watford relegated Fulham in midweek, putting City down to ninth, the pair meet at Wembley on Sunday in an FA Cup semi-final. One of them will be in the final and this may divert resources and attention. A place in Europe is still on, but quite a few City fans have expressed the opinion that they’d rather avoid it, thank you. The case of Burnley this season is cited. The Clarets’ season kicked off in Aberdeen in July. By the end of August they had also played two-legged ties against Istanbul Basaksehir and Olympiakos. While the rest of the clubs in … [Read more...] about City must chase Europa League even if it causes friction