Champions League preview: Arsenal meet Napoli with qualification up for grabs

Arsenal tackle Napoli in Italy on Wednesday with the intention of completing a clean sweep of Premier League clubs reaching the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United all reached the knock-out phase with a game to spare, but the tight nature of Group F means Arsenal are not yet assured of progression despite winning four of their five games.
Arsene Wenger's side are firmly in control of their destiny, however, and know avoiding defeat in Naples will secure top spot and a place in the second phase for the 14th year in a row.

However, the Premier League leaders could yet be condemned to the Europa League in the spring, if they lose to Napoli by a three-goal margin and last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund win away to Marseille.
Wenger has warned there will be no complacency from his team ahead of upcoming Premier League games against title rivals Manchester City and Chelsea.
Early goals from Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud secured a 2-0 home win over Napoli at the start of October, and Arsenal have already won away to Marseille and Dortmund in the group.
However, Wenger will be mindful of his team's last trip to Italy when they were beaten 4-0 by AC Milan at the San Siro.
Napoli are unbeaten in three home games against English opposition and beat both Man City and Chelsea in the Champions League in the 2011/12 season.
Rafa Benitez won the Champions League during his time as Liverpool manager and lifted the Europa League as Chelsea's interim boss last term.
Benitez's side have won just one of their last four games in Serie A to drop eight points behind leaders Juventus, but have won both of their home fixtures in the group so far.

Related

football 6888873265657811190

Post a Comment

emo-but-icon

top side ads

Hot in week

Recent

Comments

side ads

Text Widget

Connect Us

item