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.

---

Chris Sutton has sensationally claimed that Celtic's reserves are bigger than Leicester after Brendan Rodgers' move to the Premier League club. The former Hoops striker's comments were
Ex-Celtic star Chris Sutton launches scathing attack on

---

Wednesday comes around and all eyes are fixated on EA's FIFA TOTW announcement. Leicester City Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Newcastle United Crystal Star in International

---

Tottenham vs Crystal Palace predictions: Crystal Palace line-up After a difficult victory against Huddersfield which saw the Terriers' fate sealed, Crystal Palace travel to the Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham team news: Predicted XI to face Crystal Palace in

---

I know we lost some other matches but we played away at Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City - probably the three best teams apart from Tottenham." - Mourinho insists United can finish the season in the top four, despite a 3-1 defeat at Liverpool which left them in sixth place and 11 points off fourth-placed Chelsea on December 16, 2018.

---

talkSPORT.com rounds up the latest transfer news and biggest football gossip from Tuesday's papers and online… Liverpool have had a £61million bid for Lorenzo Insigne, the forward, rejected by Napoli. The Italian club don't want to sell the 27-year-old for anything less than £131million.
Liverpool transfer news: Reds 'fail in £61m bid for

---

Nantes fined by the French Football League for tribute to

---

Jurgen Klopp was in the party mood after Liverpool claimed the Champions League trophy on Saturday night.His side beat Tottenham in Mad Jurgen Klopp sings Salt-N-Pepa classic after Liverpool win Champions League in Madrid - CHOCHILINO
Jurgen Klopp sings Salt-N-Pepa classic after Liverpool win

---

Manchester United news: Alexis Sanchez turns attention away from football to make acting debut in film Talksport; Man Utd fans lay into Alexis Sanchez after flop reveals he is starring in movie
Transfer news and football gossip: Alexis Sanchez wants Man

---

Shocking footage has emerged of Tottenham and Ajax fans fighting in the streets before and after their Champions League semi-final. The teams were contesting the first leg at White Hart Lane on
Spurs and Ajax fans brawl on London streets before Champions

---

How Thierry Henry's Monaco could look at the end of January with Cesc Fabregas and Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea They've already secured Fabregas' signature but Monaco will be looking to recruit
How Thierry Henry's Monaco could look at the end of January

---

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he feels "so sorry" for Thierry Henry, following the news of his sacking from Monaco. The legendary former Arsenal forward struggled to make an impact during his brief time at Monaco, managing just four wins in his 20 matches in charge.
Pep Guardiola sends message to Thierry Henry after becoming

---

Arsenal linked to two goalies: Valencia's Neto & Real Madrid's Keylor Navas. Plus the other Gunners transfer rumours this Monday.
Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Unai Emery plans £45m raid for

---