Arsenal claim deserved victory at home over Napoli

Unai Emery put out one of his strongest sides to face a Napoli team who are the highest ranked eliminated team from this year's Champions League. With credit to them, they faced Liverpool and PSG so they were not to be underestimated and Arsenal would have to go out all guns blazing if they wanted to give themselves a good start in the first leg at home.

Thanks to beautiful sequences of play in midfield with the likes of Ramsey, Ozil and Maitland-Miles, Arsenal did exactly that and their pressure and aggression came as somewhat of a surprise to a Napoli side who struggled to get out of their own half for the majority of the opening 25 minutes.

Aaron Ramsey drew first blood in the tie after finishing off a team effort that started with a resurgent Ozil in midfield. The German laid it off to Lacazette down the left who found Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The youngster then took a moment to look up, gather himself and pick out a charging Aaron Ramsey who displayed control and composure to drill it past Meret.

That would set the precedent for the remainder of Arsenal's half who were allowed to have free reign across the midfield. Lucas Torreira was the next to take advantage of his teammates hard work by pressing high and putting himself in the perfect goalscoring position. His strike was a good one but it took a major deflection off Kalidou Koulibaly and the keeper could only watch as the ball sailed past him and into the back of his net for 2-0 Arsenal.

Whatever was said at half-time in the Napoli dressing room clearly had an effect as the visitors began to find their feet after the restart.

Insigne was the main playmaker for the Italian side but was continuously flirting with the offside line, often finding himself on the wrong side of it, so any chances that could have led to a goal were terminated before they got started.

Ramsey had other ideas for Arsenal and released a rocket of a shot that the Napoli keeper did extremely well to get behind and keep out.

As the match approached the 65 minute mark, Arsenal began to suffer with a problem which they've had all season. Maintaining the same level of intensity. Napoli, of course, would use this to their advantage as Insigne was allowed periods of free reign up front. It might have been a different story for Napoli, had he managed to stay onside.

Despite taking the away goal advantage to Italy in the second leg, Arsenal will be lucky if they are able to do anything with it, given their recent away form. So, it was key that they clung onto the lead they had forged so far in the first-leg.

Napoli had other ideas however, as they started to really threaten Arsenal's back four, saved by Koscileny, as we approached the final 10 minutes.

Aaron Ramsey had one final say in the clash as he left Arsenal fans on the edge of their seats with a shot that flew over the crossbar. A sitter really, but he failed to make it three for the Gunners and Unai Emery, as well as the fans, will be wondering whether two home goals will be enough to see them through to the semi-finals of this year's Europa League.

Arsenal make the short journey to Watford on Monday in the Premier League before taking a trip to Italy for the second-leg of this clash. Two away games in a row isn't an ideal situation for the Gunners at the moment.