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Football London
Football London
Sport
James Benge

Confirmed Arsenal starting XI vs Napoli: Torreira and Ramsey start, Ozil benched

Lucas Torreira has been named in an Arsenal starting line-up without Mesut Ozil in it as the Gunners bid to protect their 2-0 first-leg lead over Napoli in the Europa League quarter-final second leg.

Torreira had emerged as a possible doubt after being substituted in Arsenal's 1-0 win at Watford on Monday with groin pain but he was able to make the trip to Naples.

Indeed Arsenal's only short-term injury concern at this crucial juncture of the season was Barcelona loanee Denis Suarez, who was left behind in London as he recovers from a groin complaint that also forced him to miss the trip to Watford. However it is highly doubtful whether the 25-year-old would have played a significan role against Napoli even if he had been fit.

Emery is still without long-term absentees Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck, none of whom are expected to play again this season.

The trio of Granit Xhaka, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are all walking something of a disciplinary tightrope. Should any of them pick up a yellow card at the Stadio San Paolo tonight they will be banned for the first leg of the semi-final, against either Villarreal or Valencia.

(Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Napoli, meanwhile, are without Raul Albiol, who failed to overcome injury in time to feature. Elseid Hysaj is dropped from the side that lost at the Emirates Stadium last week, his place taken by former Tottenham centre-back Vlad Chiriches.

Arkadiusz Milik also replaced Dries Mertens in attack.

Napoli XI: Meret; Maksimovic, Chiriches, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Callejon, Allan, Fabian, Zielinski; Insigne, Milik

Arsenal XI: Cech; Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal; Maitland-Niles. Xhaka, Torreira, Kolasinac; Ramsey; Lacazette, Aubameyang

'What a team' - Arsenal fans love what Unai Emery has done with his Napoli line-up 

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