Unai Emery makes five changes to the side that beat Watford on Monday with Alexandre Lacazette among those returning, while Mesut Ozil is only on the bench.
Arsenal have set up firmly to control their 2-0 lead over Napoli in their Europa League quarterfinal second leg. Unai Emery has made five changes to the team that narrowly secured a victory over Watford on Monday. There is also a change in shape as Emery reverts to a back three, with Laurent Koscielny, Sokratis, and Nacho Monreal, while Shkodran Mustafi is placed on the bench.
Ainsley-Maitland Niles also returns to the starting lineup along with Sead Kolasinac as both take up their wing-back roles in the team. In central midfield, Emery has fielded Granit Xhaka, who only made his return from injury against Watford, and he partners Lucas Torreira, who had an injury scare in the build-up to the game.
? Here's our team news for tonight's #UEL quarter-final second leg!
? @LacazetteAlex and @Aubameyang7 both start
?? @LTorreira34 in midfield with @AaronRamsey and Granit Xhaka
?? @SokratisPapa5 is alongside @6_LKOSCIELNY and @_NachoMonreal? #UEL
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) April 18, 2019
Emery has preferred to start Aaron Ramsey over Mesut Ozil in the No.10 role, as the manager seeks to keep balance in the side, which is mostly to defend the two-goal advantage. Ahead of Ramsey will be the star duo of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Petr Cech, as expected takes his place between the posts as he has been primarily preferred as Arsenal’s goalkeeper in cup competitions ahead of Bernd Leno. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Mustafi, Matteo Guendouzi and Alex Iwobi are all on the Arsenal bench, thus giving Emery’s side some quality depth there.
