Arsenal vs Napoli: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opens up on Gunners 'difficulties' playing away from home ahead of second leg
Arsenal were superb against the Serie A side on Thursday night, with first-half goals from Aaron Ramsey and Lucas Torreira enough to give them a strong lead to take to Naples next week
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has conceded that Arsenal “have some difficulties” playing away from the Emirates but hopes the club’s two goal lead over Napoli will be enough to take them into the Europa League semi-finals for a second consecutive season.
Arsenal were superb against the Serie A side on Thursday night, with first-half goals from Aaron Ramsey and Lucas Torreira enough to give them a strong lead to take to Naples next week. It was Arsenal’s fifteenth win from their last sixteen games at the Emirates Stadium.
However Unai Emery’s team have been a completely different proposition playing away from home. They lost 1-0 at Everton last weekend, while also losing both of the Europa League away knockout ties they have played this season, against BATE Borisov and Rennes.
Napoli have lost just one match at the Stadio San Paolo all season, and beat Liverpool 1-0 at home in the Champions League group stages, but Aubameyang believes Arsenal can end their poor run of away form when they fly there next week.
“Of course, we know that we are having some difficulties [away from home] and we have to improve that,” Aubameyang said. “But we are confident. This is a very good result and we have everything in our hands. So we will go there and try to win the game.
“I think we played very well against them and it was important to win. I think that we had a lot of chances to score more goals, but we did not concede and that is really important. Now, we will go to Napoli with a lot of confidence and we will go there to score goals.
“If we win there, I think we will send a message out to everybody. So it will be an important game and a good challenge for us.”
The Stadio San Paolo is renowned for its intimidating atmosphere but Aubameyang has said that, if anything, hostility from the crowd will only serve to inspire Arsenal’s players further.
“That’s football,” he replied when quizzed on the atmosphere. “All of the players love to play in this type of game. Because when it is tough and you win games, you are really satisfied.
“I think we will play with confidence and I am sure we will do something, because now they have to score goals so they will attack and that will leave space for us.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments