Arsenal 2-0 Napoli: Aaron Ramsey on target as Gunners seal impressive Europa League win

Arsenal 2-0 Napoli: Aaron Ramsey on target as Gunners seal impressive Europa League win
Aaron Ramsey was in fine form as Arsenal took control of their Europa League quarter-final tie with Napoli as they outclassed their Italian opponents to secure a comfortable 2-0 first-leg victory.The Gunners extended their fine run of home form, this their 15th win from the last 16 games at the Emirates Stadium, as an Ramsey strike and a Kalidou Koulibaly own goal gave them a welcome lead to take to Naples next week.2

Aaron Ramsey scored a delightful opener for the Gunners against Napoli

Gunners boss Unai Emery had admitted on the eve of the game that he knew his team needed to win this first leg, given the stark contrast of their away form when compared to the near-perfect run at home.They have lost both away knockout ties in this season’s Europa League to BATE Borisov and Rennes, two teams not considered as strong as Napoli – who sit second in Serie A.Arsenal managed to turn both of those ties around when back in north London but this time they need to defend an advantage as they look to reach the semi-finals for the second year in a row.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2... 

• Southampton vs Wolves (Saturday, 3pm) talkSPORT 2
• Manchester United vs West Ham (Saturday, 5:30pm) talkSPORT
• Leeds vs Sheffield Wednesday (Saturday, 5:30pm) talkSPORT 2
• Wigan vs Norwich (Sunday, 12pm) talkSPORT 2
• Crystal Palace vs Manchester City (Sunday, 2:05pm) talkSPORT

The hosts started well and enjoyed plenty of possession as both Ramsey and Ainsley Maitland-Niles saw efforts blocked by Koulibaly as they pushed for an early goal.Emery’s side made their good start count as Ramsey opened the scoring following a flowing move, latching onto a Maitland-Niles pass after good work by Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette.The lead was doubled 11 minutes later as Lucas Torreira had the wherewithal to steal possession from Fabian Ruiz and charge at the Napoli goal before his weak shot was diverted past goalkeeper Alex Meret off the leg of Koulibaly.getty2

Unai Emery will have been delighted with his side’s display at the Emirates

Arsenal continued to create chances, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang twice drawing saves off of Meret as the first half wore on, although fit-again captain Lorenzo Insigne passed up a fine opportunity to half the deficit as he blazed over before the interval.The visitors responded to their poor first-half showing as they attacked from the off after the break, Insigne tucking away a chance only to be correctly flagged offside before Koulibaly saw a header tipped over by Petr Cech.Arsenal were still creating chances of their own and – following a short-corner routine – Ramsey stung the palms of Meret before Nacho Monreal headed the resulting corner over the crossbar.With the game more end-to-end than in the first 45 minutes, Dries Mertens failed to connect with a header after Insigne played him in over the top of the Arsenal defence.With Napoli coming more and more into the game, Emery responded by replacing Ozil and Lacazette with Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan for the final quarter of the contest. Iwobi was involved immediately, starting a counter-attack which resulted in Maitland-Niles drawing another save out of Meret following a marauding run from Sead Kolasinac.Napoli then missed their best chance of the night as Piotr Zielinski could only send Insigne’s low cross over Petr Cech’s crossbar from close-range.Ramsey was next to spurn a marvellous opportunity as he spooned Mkhitaryan’s cross well over the bar after being picked out free inside the Napoli box, with Aubameyang hitting the side-netting late on.The visitors attacked in the dying stages in an attempt to get an away goal but Arsenal stood firm and head to the San Paolo Stadium as the favourites to advance to the last four.

---

Watford 4-1 Fulham: Cottagers suffer Premier League relegation with five games remaining a heavy 4-1 defeat at Watford. The Cottagers become the second team in two games when receiving
Watford 4-1 Fulham: Cottagers relegated from Premier League

---

The missing girl with no name: Police search for nine-year-old who vanished after getting into a London minicab TEN MONTHS ago and fear her identity may since have been changed; No guaranteed
Standard Post With No Featured Image - Oxypur coiffure

---

Joe Gomez's Liverpool return date pencilled in as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain takes another big step. Positive news for the Reds as England duo continue to make progress with their rehab, writes James
Jurgen Klopp reveals when Liverpool can expect to have Alex

---

Chelsea vs Watford live streaming match preview. Another big game for Chelsea. Last weekend's 1-1 draw at Old Trafford means Maurizio Sarri's side are in the box seat in terms of a top 4 finish.
Watford vs Chelsea: Premier League match preview, team news

---

2 Arsenal FC Arsenal Football Club is a professional football club based in Islington, London, England, that plays in the Premier League, the top flight of English football. Why is MU first!? Arsenal is better than them by FAR! MU is trash Arsenal is the best team in not only London but all over
Premier League: The Best Game Each Team Played During the

---

There was a double fitness boost for Liverpool ahead of their Boxing Day meeting with Newcastle United at Anfield. Midfielder Naby Keita trained with his teammates on Monday after being forced off during the Reds' 2-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers due to a series of knocks. Trent Alexander
Newcastle vs Liverpool: Where to Watch, Live Stream, Kick Off

---

West Ham legend Tony Cottee has backed Declan Rice to become West Ham captain once Mark Noble hangs up his boots, according to Talksport. The former Hammer also went on to say that Rice would become a mainstay for England, if he chose to represent the Three Lions instead of Ireland.
Tony Cottee says Declan Rice can be a - sg.news.yahoo.com

---

Well we still have great goalkeepers. That's about all I can say after watching a youthful Italian side absolutely obliterate our US National team in time of possession and shots as they finally conceded a goal in the 94 th minute. Ethan Horvath playing his first game for the Red, White and Blue in over a year - was godlike between the
Latest Football News, Football Info, Sports News Updates

---

Detailed football statistics for the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and other top leagues in the world.
World Cup: One player you need to know from every team

---

Chelsea legend Gianluca Vialli reveals year-long cancer battle: 'I hope my story can inspire other people' The former Blues and Watford manager kept eight months of chemotherapy and six weeks
Chelsea & Juventus Legend Gianluca Vialli Reveals Battle with

---

Two goals from Sadio Mane helped secure Liverpool's spot in the Champions League last eight with a 3-1 win against a flat Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. The hosts arguably had the upper hand after the first leg finished goalless at Anfield but Mane's exquisite chip on 26 minutes put Jurgen Klopp's men in…
Sadio Mane goal v Bayern Munich: Jurgen Klopp needs to watch

---