Arsenal beat Napoli in the quarter-finals of the Europa League after winning the two-legged tie 3-0.
The Gunners won the first leg 2-0 at home last week and in Naples, Unai Emery’s side picked up a crucial 1-0 win courtesy of a wonder strike from Alexandre Lacazette.
And speaking after the game, Napoli’s Dries Mertens has claimed that the Serie A side failed to utilize on the chances which helped Arsenal pick up the win during the second leg.
‘The first 10-15 minutes, we had a few chances to score and that would’ve changed everything,’ Mertens told Sky Sport Italia(as reported by Metro).
‘We conceded a goal and our heads dropped. We said in the locker room that we still believed because Arsenal aren’t that good.
‘There isn’t a real gap between us. We got it very wrong at the Emirates and that ruined everything.
‘We weren’t well set out, Arsenal took advantage and we tried everything to make up for it, but they defended well.’
The win now means Arsenal will take on Valencia in the semi-finals and the first leg will be played at the Emirates on the 3rd of May.
Unai Emery had managed Valencia from 2008 up until 2012 but we doubt if that previous stint will be of any help to the Spanish boss.
Now that the Gunners have overcome one of the toughest opponents in the Europa League, they have a very realistic chance of winning the tournament which in turn would ensure that they get back into the Champions League next campaign.
And right now, Chelsea are the only real challenging opponents(at least on paper) and they is a huge possibility that the Europa League final this year might be an all English affair.
But one big concern for Arsenal is the fact that just three days before they welcome Valencia in the Europa League, the Gunners will travel to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City and almost everyone is waiting to see what ploy will Emery use.
Will, the Arsenal boss pin all his focus on Europa League and play a second string side vs the Foxes?
