Arsenal find themselves in the midst of a very fierce battle for a top four finish in the Premier League, but they can alleviate those worries of UEFA Champions League qualification if they take of business in the Europa League. Of course, Chelsea is in the same exact boat, and they have the same designs as the Gunners.
Both London clubs have advanced to the UEL quarterfinals, but the Blues seem to have an easier draw for this round. Arsenal will definitely have their hands full with Serie A power Napoli on Thursday night, where Unai Emery’s men will look to get an advantage in the first tie, which happens to be at home.
Here are your FYIs for this match. Kickoff is Thursday Apr 11, at the Emirates Stadium, 8 pm local. If you’re looking for a betting site to wager on this match, then you’ll see the odds look like this. Arsenal are usually backed to win at 7/5, a draw is priced around 5/2, while odds favoring a Napoli victory look like 19/10.
Let’s take a look at who the Spaniard may select in his first team for this one- Mesut Ozi? Maybe? The German international and most expensive player on the club has gotten himself back into his manager’s good graces lately.
Arsenal FC Starting XI Prediction (4-3-3) vs Napoli (UEFA Europa League Quarterfinal Leg 1/2)
Attacking Players: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alex Iwobi, Alexandre Lacazette
Midfielders: Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Aaron Ramsey
Defenders: Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Shkodran Mustafi, Sokratis, Nacho Monreal
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
Injury report for both clubs: 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.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.