A semi-final place is at stake when Napoli host Arsenal in the Europa League quarter final second leg at the Stadio San Paolo. Here are the Three Keys to this clash. You can bet on the Europa League here.
Napoli solid home record v Arsenal’s poor away form
Napoli face a monumental task of overturning a 2-0 deficit in the Europa League quarter final second leg at home. However, they have won five of their seven home fixtures against Premier League opposition.
They welcome Arsenal who have a dismal away record this term. They have won three of their last 13 away matches in all competitions; losing seven and drawing the other three. They’ll be facing a more hungry and aggressive Partenopei side who are unbeaten at home in Europe this season, winning four of their five matches, scoring 10 goals and conceding just two.
Napoli attack v Arsenal defence
The hosts have the third best attack in Serie A and should be a handful for the fragile Arsenal defence. Arkadiusz Milik and Dries Mertens have scored 33 goals between them and, backed by their usual enthusiastic crowd, they should have plenty of joy in front of goal.
The Gunners meanwhile have an unreliable defence, especially away from home. They have kept three clean sheets in their last 15 away matches in all competitions. They will have to be solid at the back or risk allowing Napoli’s talented forward line to run riot.
Arkadiusz Milik v Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Milik is Napoli’s top goalscorer this season in all competitions. He’s scored 19 goals and assisted three more in all competitions this season. He scored in Napolis’s Serie A match against Chievo over the weekend. Given Arsenal’s brittleness in defence, the Polish striker will definitely have a sniff.
Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has had a decent first full season as a Gunner. The lightning quick forward is already in contention for the Premier League top scorer this season, having scored 18 goals. In all competitions, he’s found the net 22 times and assisted a further six; therefore, he’ll be tasked with providing at least an away goal for the Gunners at the Stadio San Paolo.