So typical of Arsenal it is to follow up one of their worst performances of the season, away at Everton, with one of their most complete displays to outclass Italy’s second-best side. And, classic Arsenal, Unai Emery appears to have found a winning formula just too late to yield the potential rewards.
Arsenal, who were the third-favourites for the cup against Napoli in the tie of the Europa League quarter-finals, opened up a two-goal advantage over the second-favorites courtesy of first-half goals from Aaron Ramsey and Lucas Torreira.
It was the first time these two goalscorers have been paired together in the base of Arsenal’s midfield and Emery was treated to a taste of what could have been had the Gunners felt able to compete in the race to sign their own player.
At least Ramsey seems determined to finish his Arsenal career with a flourish and when he goes to Juventus in the summer to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, the Welshman may well depart with a tinge of regret that he did not get to team up more often with Torreira.
Although they have been named together in the same XI on eight previous occasions this term, with Granit Xhaka absent, the visit of Napoli allowed Emery to field Ramsey and Torreira in a partnership for the first time and the combination made bitter-sweet viewing for Arsenal fans.
Ramsey and Torreira set the tone for performance only the most optimistic of Arsenal fans might have hoped for, especially in the wake of their tame surrender at Goodison Park on Sunday. But, same old Arsenal, this is a side wh9ch enjoys its home comfort and Napoli struggled to live with the Gunners amid a frenetic start at the Emirates.
Both goals came from pressing Napoli either side of the halfway line and breaking at break-neck speed once possession was won. Firstly, Ramsey left Torreira to guard the back four, bouncing the ball back to Mesut Ozil before hurtling into the box, where the midfielder was able to sweep home after Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ composed turn and touch before a quarter of an hour had passed.
Ten minutes later, it was
Rather than lay off a simple pass to either striker, however, Torreira chopped the ball from his right to left foot, took out Fabian Ruiz and opened up a 20-yard shooting opportunity.
It was hardly the cleanest strike and one which may have rolled the wrong side of the post from an Arsenal perspective, but Kalidou Koulibaly, who had already been forced into a couple of last-ditch blocks, failed to form an impenetrable barrier on this occasion, instead deflecting the ball beyond the helpless Alex Meret.
For the entirety of their shift together, Ramsey and Torreira worked in tandem to supplement a forward line featuring all three of Ozil, Lacazette and Aubameyang. Rarely did both go, and when the ball was surrendered – Napoli had 58 per cent of the possession – both were able to retreat to provide the kind of shield Arsenal’s rearguard, it whatever shape, has so often lacked.