Are you excited or worried ahead of Napoli v Arsenal?

It is right to be worried ahead of the Napoli game but we can be confident as well by Sam P

Not too long to wait now before our Europa League second leg game against Napoli and I have to admit, I am both excited and worried.

I am excited because I am convinced we will have enough about us to progress, I know our away record leaves a lot to be desired but I also know that Napoli are not as formidable at home as a lot of people would have us think.

I am worried because I am not naive, I know what dangers lurk and that Napoli is a top quality team with high-class players that are more than capable of giving us a bloody nose.

Players like Arkadiusz Milik, Lorenzo Insigne, Piotr Zieliński, Simone Verdi and Dries Mertens can turn this game if given the chance, they will come at us from the kick off, they will be relentless and we have to be prepared for that.

The dangers we face are numerous, a partisan crowd, a skilful attacking opponent, our away record, nervousness, occasional unusual team selections, some of our players not turning up and much more.

We know what we have to do, we have to be organised, defend well, grab control of the midfield and supply our forwards whenever the opportunity arises.

We have to quieten down the crowd quickly, Italian fans are notoriously fickle and can easily turn on their own team when things go wrong and that is in itself a great incentive.

So, yes, we have to be careful, anxious and worried but we can also be confident, we do have a 2-0 lead, we are a very good team when we get it right and in Emery, we have a manager with unrivalled Europa League experience.

19 Comments

  1. Both! Haha!

    I am excited because I feel confident we can go through with Emery. There’s genuine belief for once. I said last season, that the ONLY chance we had of beating Atletico was if we replaced Wenger before the tie, because he always messes up the the first leg, and then we cannot recover…and guess what happened? Subsequently, we when out because of the lack of a decision on Wenger. Atletico even gave us a man extra for the first leg, and we still couldn’t even win that game! Haha! We always knew the end result under Wenger in Europe.

    This is the first time for as long as I can remember that we’re up against a top side in Europe, I actually feel we can win, and we’ve already done half the job. For once, we didn’t mess up the first leg!

    I feel worried because I think Emery will not pick his strongest team…which is crazy! Cech will be in for Leno. As I keep saying, our backs will be up against the wall tonight, and we’ll probably have our best keeper, and player of the season sat on the bench.

    Our away form is also a worry, but it’s not too much of a concern in regards to the big games. In the league we’ve played 5 big teams away from home, and although the results do not look great, it’s the performances that give me hope, and we’ve scored in all of them. Ignore the City, and Liverpool away games, as they’re on a different level, and Napoli are not on that level. We should have won at Chelsea, score draw at worst, decent performance, created so many chances. Bossed Utd at Old Traffold, should have won, lots of chances again. Again, should have won at Spurs, the ref and Auba cost us. Our defence is our main worry, but also our finishing. We’re missing so many easy chances, which we saw yet again on Monday night. Creativity is our strongest area this season (with or without Ozil, before people bang that drum), we just need some composure for once.

    I think we’ll sneak through tonight with a 3-2 loss (3-4) on aggregate

  2. We will score and get to the next round. Doesn’t matter if we win in knockout competitions. Just get to the next round. And let’s also hope somehow Slavia Prague can pull off an upset. Why not I suppose lol. COYG

  3. I’m excited.. as I’ve just seen the green kit won’t be on show tonight… it’s the red kit ?
    Although I have to say, I’m always nervous when we’re away… but you never know, they may pùt in a hell of a performance tonight ? COYG

      1. Can I call on my fellow Gooners to answer a question that just came to mind? Are we under any legal obligation to wear a specific kit for a certain number of games? BTW besides the red and white , the blue and yellow away kit was always my favorite.

        1. Georgie I think at home it’s the red and white unless our opponent’s home and away kit clash with our home colours then we can opt for any of our other kits. Away from home it’s also any strip we wanna wear as long as it doesn’t clash with the home side’s colours, we wouldn’t wanna confuse Iwobi anymore than he already is…

  4. When you are up 2-0, your worrying decreases slightly. I’m definitely excited because we will be in the Semi-finals if we hold of Napoli

  5. Play on the counter and we will be okay.

    Having a high line in a away game is so dangerous especially if our midfielders and forwards dont press.

    Keep a solid sharp in defense and midfield (meaning we concede possession), once we nick the ball quickly send it forward (with caution though, with 3 or 4 players) while the rest keep sharp incase of a counter. This tactic almost worked against Spurs away (if not for Auba missing the pen). Napoli play a bit similar to Spurs but less direct (they move around the ball a lot, like to have lots of possession and love the ball over the top from Koulibaly to Milik or to one of the wide players). Xhaka, Lucas and Ramsey will be key if we are to have success (and by that an upright win) tonight.

    COYG, we go this!!!

  6. Emery knows what he’ll do tonight, I know our away form is shaky but this is something different and a chance at a European trophy. My fellow gunners just relax your little heads and enjoy our game tonight, I assure you we will go through tonight. I’m also having a feeling that both trophies are coming to England.

  7. Come on you Gunners

    Prove that you are better than the spuds by getting the EL trophy

    If we get it and the bottlers lose in CL semifinal, that will replace the St Totteringham Day

  8. Personally I am both excited AND worried at ALMOST EVERY game. In some, but only very few, though not tonight, I am also confident. Above all that though I am honest with myself and always admit my true thoughts both to others AND to myself.. Some on here should try admitting the truth to THEMSELVES at times. It helps you stay sane; at least as sane as ANY football obsessive can EVER truly claim to be. Which is not, perhaps, very much at all!

  9. Until we acquire better quality defenders I will always be concerned before matches particularly away from home and when our very good goalkeeper(Leno) is unlikely to play.I consider Leno to be one of the best keepers in the PL and an excellent buy for £20m.Despite my concerns regarding Czech,Monreal and Mustafi I feel my double will come up as I forecast Arsenal and Spurs to make it to the next stage.However with Kane and Song out I take Ajax to reach the CL final.

    1. @ jon fox.Always enjoy your posts. If I can borrow from Gill. and Sull the game is : A paradox, a paradox a most ingenious paradox.

      1. Georgie, “continue fine I hope it may and yet it rained but yesterday” etc. I run a Gilbert and Sullivan theatre company and you should perhaps have saved your post til Feb 29th! I feel sure you will understand this comment but only a few others will do likewise. After keeping a clean sheet at Watford we could all do with a “pair of ducks” tonight. But NO paradox of course!

        1. Jon I just saw your comment (which mentioned me in it) in the Ajax star on his way thread, to which I’ve replied. Normally I’d let it go, but didn’t think I could do so this time

  10. Am always delighted to read u Guyz comment here, u are all wonderful…Am positive we will qualify to the next round but I can’t predict the score line…

Comments are closed

Top Blog Sponsors