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In what was a very disappointing game, the Gunners come into this fixture with a defeat to Everton on their shoulders. On the other hand, Napoli come into this game with a hard-fought point against a robust Genoa side who were reluctant in conceding more than one goal against Carlo's men.
Arsenal have demonstrated a brilliant form at home since the start of the season, as their home win record is only bettered by Man City the in EPL. In the Europa League, they have qualified to the next round despite losing the first leg on two occasions, first against BATE Borisov and later against Rennes. Unai Emery's men, led by Sokratis from the back, have conceded only 1 goal in their last 6 home games, scoring 18, which is certainly a big reason to worry for the men from Naples.
The Arsenal vs Napoli game promises high-octane, mesmerising football. The last time Carlo Ancelotti's men faced a Premier League side, it did not end well for Napoli, as they crashed out of the UCL due to a 1-0 loss against Liverpool at Anfield.
As the two European heavyweights clash their swords at the Emirates, here are a few key battles you should not miss.
#3 Lucas Torreira vs Fabian Ruiz Pena
Arsenal succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Everton last weekend. One of the major reasons for the loss was because Emery did not have two of his first eleven midfielders available for selection; Torreira was out due to suspension and Xhaka because of a groin injury. Though Xhaka's return still seems unlikely, the fact that Lucas Torreira will be available for selection provides the Arsenal squad with a huge boost before facing Napoli.
Torreira, 22, will have a tough competitor in Fabian Ruiz when his side take to the pitch to pit their wits against Napoli. The latter joined for a fee of €30 million from Real Betis in the summer of 2018 and the 23-year-old has lived up to the coach's expectations.
When it comes to positioning, Fabian Ruiz is excellent. He reads the play and reacts to it with immense calmness. Playing as a midfielder, the Spanish man has only 2 yellow cards in 20 Serie A appearances, which is a decent feat. But he'll need more than that to keep one of Premier League's best midfielder.
Lucas Torreira has lived up to the billing and the Urugyuan has shot to prominence in London, as his gaffer has been able to get the best out of him within no time. The former Sampodiara player is a fan-favourite at the Emirates, and the team would yet again rely on him to pull the strings from the midfield.
#2 Insigne vs Mustafi
If there is one thing Arsenal fans did not want to hear, it was Insigne being fit to play at the Emirates. The attacking force of Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne has run riots in Italy, often replicating the same form in European Nights as well.
Latest reports from Italy confirm that Insigne is fit to start against Arsenal, after suffering an ankle injury a couple of weeks ago. He bagged a few minutes against Genoa and Carlo Ancelotti is likely to deploy his fierce duo in order to break Arsenal's incredible defensive home form.
On the other hand, Unai Emery and the medical staff will have to take a late call on whether they should include Koscienly in the squad or not. However, it seems the captain won't be a part of the team for the first leg, which puts immense pressure on Arsenal's unsung hero Shkodran Mustafi.
Though it was a below average team performance from Arsenal against Everton, one cannot claim that Mustafi was not at his best. The German defender was in top form, often making last-ditch tackles and interceptions, trying his best to keep the manager's faith in him.
Mustafi has been a better player this season in comparison to his previous seasons - thanks to Unai Emery. He will have to fill Koscienly's boots once again this season, as injury concerns and age has often impacted Laurent's fitness.
#1 Aubameyang/Lacazette vs Koulibaly
If there is one reason why Manchester United fans would stay up late night to watch a Europa League fixture, it is this. This is a trial test for Koulibaly before joining the Red Devils. His performance against the lethal duo of Aubameyang and Lacazette will either earn him a healthy contract at Old Trafford, or the links would cease.
Auba and Laca have been involved in 42 goals this season for Arsenal, more than nearly 60% of the goals scored by the Gunners. They both have played an immense part in defining Arsenal's season this term, and are allegedly the best duo in the world, only behind Luis Suarez and Leo Messi.
How they fare against Koulibaly, the highest rated defender in Italy is yet to be seen, but this game promises plenty of drama, with a plethora of problems for both of the sides to cope up with.
