Napoli vs Arsenal

Napoli has arrived at the crucial moment of the season. A elimination from the Europa League quarter-finals – combined with yet another second place in the league – would turn Ancelotti’s season into almost bankruptcy. Arsenal arrives on Thursday evening, and the Azzurri have to reassemble the 2-0 of the first leg.

Napoli lost 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium last Thursday. The Arsenal was definitely superior, and would have deserved even a larger score. It will certainly be difficult to reassemble the Gunners, who have not exactly closed the qualifying speech in London. On Sunday evening, then, Ancelotti’s team easily settled Chievo for 1-3, condemning him arithmetically to relegation to Serie B. Napoli arrived loaded, aware of having to do a business. Napoli must win with at least 3 goal difference – regardless of the result – to qualify directly to the Europa League semi-finals. You need a 2-0 to send it to extra time. Any other Italian victory with “only” 2 goal difference – but which implies suffering at least one goal – would not be enough: the 3-1, the 4-2 and so on, would qualify the English. Ancelotti will certainly play offensively. The full-backs will rotate again after Chievo: Hysaj and Mario Rui come back. Allan and Fabian Ruiz in safe midfield. In front there is the trident temptation, but it is more likely that Mertens will be held as a solution to the current game: this time it will be Milik who will support Insigne.

Arsenal deservedly won 2-0 the first leg. The Gunners, however, are a type of team when they play in front of their fans, and a whole other formation far from the walls of their friends. The double advantage is reassuring, but anything can happen: especially at the San Paolo. Emery’s team may be even a little more tired after engaging with Premier in Watford. The choices of Emery should not however be very different from those of the first leg. The usual Torreira to lead the midfield, alongside the future Juventus player Aaron Ramsey. In front of Ozil will support the pair of goals formed by Lacazette and Aubameyang.

Napoli vs Arsenal Picks

Napoli vs Arsenal met three times in their history: 1 Neapolitan victory and 2 English successes. The last one was the 2-0 of the first leg. The other two matches date back to the Champions League group stage in 2013: the first leg won Arsenal 2-0, while on the return leg it was Napoli who won 2-0. Napoli has the strength and tenacity to be able to re-open the qualifying discourse. A perfect match will be needed, especially on defense, where in the first leg there were a couple of errors in the setup that led to the Gunners’ goals. Napoli must not concede a goal, otherwise it will need 4 goals to qualify.

Prediction Today: 1

Odds: 1.75