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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Callum Rice-Coates

Arsenal vs Napoli: Gunners take comprehensive lead to Naples thanks to Aaron Ramsey and Lucas Torreira

Aaron Ramsey's effort and a Kalidou Koulibaly own goal gave Arsenal a 2-0 victory over Napoli in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday - and a rare and valuable clean sheet to take to Italy in a week's time.

Arsenal took the lead in the 14th minute through Ramsey, who finished off a sweeping move down the right by calmly slotting the ball past Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret.

They doubled the advantage 10 minutes later after a moment of individual brilliance from Lucas Torreira, who dashed through the Napoli midfield before spinning and switching the ball to his left foot and letting fly.

The Uruguayan's shot took a heavy deflection off Senegal defender Koulibaly and was registered as an own-goal.

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage from the Europa League quarter-finals as Arsenal host Napoli and Chelsea travel to Slavia Prague.
Team News​​
 
 
Arsenal make five changes to the team that lost narrowly at Everton last weekend. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is back in the side, while Laurent Koscielny, Lucas Torreira and Aaron Ramsey all come in. Petr Cech starts, too, replacing Bernd Leno.
 
For Napoli, Lorenzo Insigne makes a welcome return from injury. David Ospina, on loan from Arsenal, only makes the bench.
 
 
Team News
 
Plenty of changes for Chelsea, then. There's no place in the starting lineup for Eden Hazard, who drops to the bench. Pedro, Willian and Olivier Giroud make up the Blues' front three, while Andreas Christensen and Mateo Kovacic both start.
 
 
This is by some way Arsenal's biggest challenge in what has been a fairly routine Europa League campaign. Napoli, who finished level on points with Liverpool in their Champions League group but missed out on goals scored, are one of the favourites to win the competition.
 
Carlo Ancelotti's side have stuttered somewhat domestically of late. But they overcame the difficult test of RB Leipzig in the last 16 of the Europa League and might fancy their chances over two legs against an Arsenal side with a poor record away from home.
 
That is why tonight's first leg is so crucial. Unai Emery will know that taking a lead to Naples is imperative, so the pressure will be on the home side to take the game to their opposition.
 
 
Chelsea are strong favourites to get the better of tonight's opposition, Slavia Prague, but they will need to be wary of complacency. The Czech side have only lost three games in their league this season and knocked out Sevilla in the last 16.
 
Maurizio Sarri's team selection, though, suggests he is confident of getting a result without needing to risk some of his most important players. The priority, clearly, is to finish in the top four in the Premier League.
 
 
Some pre-match reading: Eden Hazard, who only makes the bench tonight, has suggested Chelsea's players are beginning to get used to the demands of their coach. The Blues have won four of their last five heading into this evening's game.
 
Arsenal fans will have fond memories of hosting Napoli. The Gunners beat their Italian opposition 2-0 at the Emirates in the Champions League group stages back in 2013, and a certain Mesut Ozil - who starts again tonight - scored his first goal for the club.
Napoli have their work cut out to leave London with anything less than a defeat. The Emirates has become something of a fortress for the Gunners - domestically and in Europe - this season.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are unfamiliar with tonight's opposition. This is the first competitive game between the two sides, although the Czech team's record against English clubs does not bode well.
Elsewhere
 
There are two other quarter-finals tonight: Benfica, top of the Primeira Liga in Portugal, host Frankfurt. And there's an all Spanish tie as Villarreal play Valencia at the Estadio de la Ceramica.
 
 
The teams are out at the Emirates. Kick off is just a couple of minutes away now...
KICK OFF
Arsenal get us underway! Chelsea have kicked off in Prague too.
Arsenal 0-0 Napoli
 
3 minutes
 
The home side are very much on top in the early stages, dominating possession and territory. Maitland-Niles bursts down the right and whips a cross into the middle. It evades everyone and gets put behind for a corner, which Napoli deal with.
Slavia Prague 0-0 Chelsea
 
5 minutes
 
Chelsea have been forced into some early defending. The home side are looking to start quickly and get their noses in front before the visitors are able to settle.
 
 
Arsenal 0-0 Napoli
 
7 minutes
 
Arsenal are penning Napoli in their own half at the moment. They force another corner, which is fired in dangerously by Torreira. It misses every red shirt in the box, though, and the referee awards Napoli a free kick. 
Arsenal 0-0 Napoli
 
8 minutes
 
A first real chance of the game for Arsenal, who break down the left through Kolasinac. The full back pulls the ball across the box for Ramsey, whose left-footed shot is expertly blocked by Koulibaly. Napoli's centre back picks himself up in time to block another shot, this time from Maitland-Niles, before the away side hook the ball clear.
Arsenal 0-0 Napoli
 
11 minutes
 
Napoli have set up with the clear intention to frustrate Arsenal and find space on the counter attack. So far, though, it's been one-way traffic. The Gunners are pressing high and dominating in midfield.

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