SM
Southampton vs. Liverpool: 3 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
AL
Europa League | Quarter-Finals
Apr 11, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
NL

2-0

Ramsey (15'), Koulibaly (25' og.)
FT(HT: 2-0)

Unai Emery: 'Arsenal Europa League progress still 50/50 despite 2-0 win'

:Headline: Unai Emery: 'Arsenal Europa League progress still 50/50 despite 2-0 win': ID:355991: from db_amp
The two sides will meet again next week.

Unai Emery believes Arsenal's Europa League quarter-final with Napoli remains in the balance despite seeing his side secure a convincing first-leg win.

The Gunners picked up a deserved 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium as an Aaron Ramsey strike and a Kalidou Koulibaly own goal put them in charge of the tie.

Emery admitted on the eve of the tie that his side needed to win at home, given their poor form on the road this season.

“It's 50/50 - the result is a good result and can give us some advantage, but playing away, I know continuing with the same 50/50 for each team”
-

They have lost both away knockout ties in this season's Europa League to BATE Borisov and Rennes, two teams not considered as strong as Napoli – who sit second in Serie A.

Coupled with a return of just five Premier League away wins so far under Emery, the Spaniard feels their place in the semi-final cannot be taken for granted quite yet.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery (Adam Davy/PA)

"It's 50-50," he replied when asked how he saw the tie after winning the first leg.

"The result doesn't change the idea I had before the match. It's 50/50 – the result is a good result and can give us some advantage, but playing away, I know continuing with the same 50/50 for each team.

"I think it's a good result but we know it's going to be very difficult because our performances at home have usually been very strong.

"They're going to use their possibilities and attacking options against us for a comeback. Our objective now is to continue being competitive like we are here, away with our gameplay for the next matches.

"I think we deserved the result. The two halves were very different because in the first half we controlled the ball very well and controlled with our positioning and attacked their box with the players, scoring two goals and some chances more.

"We didn't concede a lot for them, only the one chance they earned in the first half."

Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti was at a loss as to why his side started the game so slowly but believes if they can replicate their improved second-half display at the San Paolo Stadium there is still a chance to progress.

"I was surprised by the lack of courage and personality from my players initially," he said.

"We had worked on this. Turning things around now will be difficult, but we'll be home, at the San Paolo, and the fans will help us.

"In the second half we managed to do better, create chances, so I have hope for the second leg. It's difficult, not impossible."

amp_article__355991 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-04-12 06:12:55:
html db last update - 2019-04-12 06:12:55 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Unai Emery

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .