LONDON • If only Arsenal could unlock the bewildering and elusive secret to away games.
Having given themselves an encouraging leg-up with a 2-0 Europa League victory at the Emirates on Thursday, thanks to Aaron Ramsey's effort and a Kalidou Koulibaly own goal, attention now switches to a daunting trip to Napoli next week to see their enthralling quarter-final through.
Their wretched form on the road this season, with Arsenal the only Premier League team yet to keep a clean sheet on their travels, means the tie is far from a done deal.
The Italian Serie A side are a formidable force in front of their vociferous fans at the San Paolo Stadium.
Warning that it is going to be "very difficult there", Unai Emery admitted his squad's character will be tested as "sometimes away, we lose the spirit we have at home".
The Arsenal manager added: "The first leg was very important to take a good result.
8
Consecutive wins Arsenal have racked up at the Emirates.
"We deserved to win, but their performances at home are usually very strong. We will plan to win the match, but we need to have a lot of respect for them. It is still 50-50. Our challenge is to be competitive."
Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti talked up his side's chances, confident that it will be a "different environment" with the home crowd.
He added: "The result is difficult to change, but we have 90 minutes left."
At Slavia Prague, Chelsea's 1-0 win, courtesy of Marcos Alonso's late header, was overshadowed by a pre-match incident which saw three fans banned from the game in the Czech Republic.
The club's security team had identified the fans from a video posted on Twitter of them singing a derogatory song about Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and calling him a bomber. Condemning the trio for their "abhorrent discriminatory behaviour", the Blues promised to "take the strongest possible action against them".
Manager Maurizio Sarri backed the "very strong and right decision" while the Reds also thanked Chelsea for their quick response.
In the other quarter-finals, Valencia triumphed 3-1 at Villarreal in a Spanish LaLiga battle while Portugal's Benfica ran out 4-2 winners over 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE GUARDIAN
Hariss Harun insists Home United have proved they can more than match Albirex Niigata (S) ahead of this week's Singapore Cup semifinal over two legs.
Hariss Harun says Home United can beat Albirex in Singapore
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was a guest on Talksport on Monday, and the former Chelsea striker discussed his former club's success in winning the Premier League this season. Hasselbaink is now the
Chelsea's All-Time Premier League Squad Based on Shirt
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said talisman Harry Kane could be out of the rest of the season after he limped off injured in the second half of his team's 1-0 Champions League victory
Kane could be out for the season, says Pochettino | FOX
LONDON: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said Manchester United's home ground Old Trafford is no longer the fortress it used to be as City look to win all three points and take the lead in the
'It's not scary to go there' - Guardiola says Old Trafford no
Solskjaer aims thinly-veiled dig at Jose over 'stupid' tactics. Date published: Tuesday 15th January 2019 8:20. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seemed to take a dig at Jose Mourinho over his tactics
We trust ourselves: Yoshida, Football News & Top Stories
Man United v Inter, Juve v Spurs in Singapore in July From left, legends Dwight Yorke, Francesco Toldo, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Teddy Sheringham at an event announcing the 2019 International
Tottenham to play Juventus, Inter, United in 2019
Cheer on your beloved football team with our latest sport-inspired styles from New Era. Our Tottenham Hotspur F.C. collection fuses contemporary designs with iconic silhouettes.
Football: Tottenham set for kick-off at new stadium to
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp concedes he faces a selection dilemma as centre back Dejan Lovren is unlikely to feature against Bayern Munich in Tuesday's Champions League last 16 fixture at
LIVERPOOL: Everton avoided a third consecutive Premier League home defeat as Kurt Zouma's header and a late goal by Dominic Calvert-Lewin earned them a flattering 2-0 victory against Bournemouth
Everton ride luck for 2-0 victory at home to Bournemouth
Baihakki Khaizan is eager to get reacquainted with former national teammate Noh Alam Shah who has been brought in as player mentor for the Singapore Lions and reckons the latter "brings something to the team that has been missing for years."
'Bye, 'bye, Baihakki! - SPORTS247.MY | The Ultimate Malaysian
Atletico Madrid moved level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona after Antoine Griezmanns second-half penalty was enough to see off Espanyol 1-0 on Saturday. Griezmann smashed home from the spot 10 minutes after the break to give Diego Simeones side three points from a hard-fought match with m ..
0 comments:
Post a Comment