The Napoli vs Arsenal UEFA Europa League quarterfinal tie is a match-up of two leading title contenders. The winner here may ultimately prove to be the eventual tournament champion, although Chelsea will certainly have something to say about that.
This is the third time that Napoli has reached this stage of the competition, having won it all in 1989. As for Arsenal, they have lost just once (Ostersunds FK 2017-18) in their last 17 matches at home in this competition.
In terms of fitness concerns, Laurent Koscielny and Granit Xhaka are injury doubts for the north London side.
Xhaka suffered a groin injury while on international duty with Switzerland and has been out ever since. Koscielny missed out on the Gunners loss at Everton on the weekend.
“I don’t know, Koscielny had to come back today, but yesterday we knew it wasn’t possible,” Arsenal manager Unai Emery said of his team captain.
“I want to be positive for Thursday, but it depends on how he recovers. For Xhaka it is the same thing, he is a doubt for Thursday.”
Napoli have no fresh injury concerns at this time, with Lorenzo Insigne having returned to action over the weekend.
Should Arsenal end up winning the tournament it would be the fourth time Emery has claimed this specific piece of silverware.
Arsenal FC vs Napoli (UEFA Europa League Quarterfinal Leg 1/2) FYIs
Kickoff- Thursday Apr 11, Emirates Stadium 8pm
Odds via Betfair- Arsenal win 7/5, Draw 5/2, Napoli win 19/10
Arsenal FC starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Prediction- Arsenal 2, Napoli 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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