Napoli v Arsenal Preview – Line Up and Score Prediction

Going into a second leg with a two-goal led is a massive advantage and the question for Arsenal manager Unai Emery is does he go all defensive and try to protect the lead or does he send out the team attack minded knowing that a single goal will mean that Napoli would have to score four?

There is the middle ground, which is to play defensive but to have the team set up to play counter-attacking football and I am of the opinion that is exactly how Emery will approach this game.

Cech will start in goal, there is no indication that Emery will all of a sudden pick Leno instead of the former Czech Republic international.

I imagine that Emery will most likely play a back three of Sokratis, Koscielny, and Monreal with two wing backs in Maitland-Niles and Kolasinac, who will be the outlet for us to get the ball forward in a controlled manner.

He is almost certain to bring Ramsey back into the midfield knowing that he is perfectly suited to playing counter-attacking football and will probably have Xhaka and Torreira alongside him in a solid three-man midfield,

I do expect Ozil to play simply because his sort of sublime passing could be crucial in this type of game, he cannot be relied upon to defend earnestly but he is the sort of player that excels at counter attacking football.

That leaves Lacazette as the lone striker, he is better at holding the ball up than Aubameyang and that will be crucial in this sort of game.

Predicted line-up

Cech
Sokratis
Koscielny
Monreal
Maitland-Niles
Kolasinac
Xhaka
Ramsey
Torreira
Ozil
Lacazette

I have no doubts that Napoli will probably dominate possession, they are at home and have to attack, they simply have no choice and it will be a tense game but I am convinced we will score and even if we do lose I am positive we will still progress to the semi-finals.

Predicted score

Napoli 3-1 or 2-2

Arsenal to go through to semi-finals.