Arsenal’s home form can see them through tonight against Napoli

Arsenal are set to resume their Europa League campign at the Emirates tonight as SSC Napoli travel to London for the first tie in the Quarter-finals of the unwanted step-child cup competition of Europe.
Given their poor performance this weekend in the league, Arsenal may need to reconsider the importance of the Europa League for Champion’s League qualification. While the league still holds a path forward, winning the Europa League would mean that they’d enter the riches of the Champions League without having to worry about where they finished in the league. (I know you know this)
However, tonight’s opponent is no easy group of Uzbek farmers. SSC Napoli are a fantastic club with a good squad and a manager who knows a few things about winning European competitions.
Learning from the League
Arsenal were simply abysmal this weekend in the league against Everton. The team selection didn’t work and as such the team as a whole looked turgid on the pitch.
All the trademarks of Arsenal’s horrendous away form were on display as poor defending consigned Arsenal to another defeat away from the Emirates. They remain the only team in the league yet to achieve a clean sheet away from home.
Against Everton the use of Guendouzi and Elneny in the midfield unbalanced their play and the fact is the two were extremely poor. The duo failed to impose themselves on the midfield which allowed the opposition to overrun us time and time again. Fortunate for Arsenal, Everton aren’t a power house side or else, there would have been an even larger defeat on hand.
The good news for tonight seems to be that Granit Xhaka is likely back (late fitness test) and Lucas Torreira should feature after missing out on the league due to suspension. Both would obviously fix the problems from the weekend, however, should Xhaka miss out, the Uruguayan midfielder should still add some stability and presence there.
How Emery sets up the defence will also depend on the fitness of Laurent Koscielny. The captain faces a late fitness test himself. If fit, he should feature in the back 3 or back 4. If a back 3 is Emery’s choice, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Monreal dropped. I know that goes against twitter-group thought and feelings around Mustafi but Monreal is showing all the signs of a defender well past his prime (and I love the guy).
In attack, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Aaron Ramsey who,surprisingly, did not start on the weekend, but have been staples of an attacking Arsenal side that almost went unbeaten throughout March in a difficult run of fixtures.
Fortress Emirates
Despite a horrendous away form, Arsenal retain hope by virtue of their home ground, The Emirates Stadium. A place the Gunners have conceded just two goals in five Europa League games, both coming on the opening matchday of the group stage against Ukrainian minnows, Vorskla. Add to that to their formidable League play at home and you’d have to favor the Gunners to get the win tonight in North London.
They will need to do as much because the opponent is equally as strong as this Arsenal team. The Sao Paolo is not a friendly environment even for the best of teams, and it is imperative that Arsenal draw on their home strength to secure a win today. While Arsenal have been strong on their travels in the Europa League, they have managed to lose their last two EL away matches.
Projected Line-ups
Given the magnitude of the game, and Arsenal’s inability to beat mid-table teams away from home, Emery can ill-afford to get the starting line-up wrong once again.
A sturdy defence and a strong creative midfield are needed, and Arsenal fans will be pleased to hear that both Laurent Koscielny and Granit Xhaka were in full training yesterday ahead of tonight’s crucial first leg.
Xhaka mixed together with the return of Lucas Torreira is a cocktail of good passing and stability that Arsenal where sorely lacking vs Everton, and should provide the Gunners with the midfield to outwit Carlo Ancelotti and co.
However, the predicted line-up looks to be more of a negative approach, with just Ramsey and Aubameyang as the attacking threats on Napoli’s goal. If Emery is serious about beating Napoli, he’ll have to take advantage of being at home first and throw on the quartet of Aubameyang, Lacazette, Özil and Ramsey.
Aubameyang and Lacazette provide the lethal finishing that Arsenal require, with Özil looking for the defence-splitting pass. However, its Ramsey who holds the key to it all, with his runs from deep beyond the aforementioned trio remaining a key facet to the Gunners’ attack.
Due to Arsenal’s away form, the only conceivable way the Gunners can get past the Italians is by scoring three or four without reply in the first leg. An attacking line-up provides Arsenal with the ability to turnover even the best of European sides, so Emery should take advantage of this opportunity
YAMA PREDICTS
3-0 to Arsenal – Arsenal are too strong at home, even for the competition favourites.
Conclusion
Arsenal shouldn’t be frightened of the test that Napoli provide for the Gunners. Despite losing to Everton, Napoli showed solidarity with their English cousins, and thought it was only fair they equalled Arsenal’s bad performance with a 1-1 draw to mid-table Genoa, who were down to ten-men for 62 minutes of Sunday’s 90.
The tie provides two equally matched European giants, who before the draw, wouldve been the two favourites to reach the final. It promises to be a classic, with both possessing unbelievable attacking talents, with Napoli holding the advantage with the slightly better defence, in the shape of Kalidou Koulibaly. However with the Gunners good home form and attacking prowess at The Emirates this season, Arsenal should ease to victory tonight.