FootieTalks

Arsenal defensive frailties came back to haunt them as Crystal Palace dented their top four hopes with a 3-2 win at The Emirates.  Following back-to-back away wins and clean sheets at Watford and Napoli, Arsenal went into the game high on confidence, but their defence let them down yet again as Christian Benteke, Wilfried Zaha, and James McArthur took advantage of the frailties.  Two of the three Palace goals came via set-pieces as Arsenal found themselves open and exposed, and Zaha's was put on a plate for him by a shocking error by Mustafi, who found himself in no-man’s land, leaving the ball for his keeper, but Leno stayed on his goal line.  Palace led at half time, but the Gunner’s got level swiftly after through Mesut Ozil . A Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal in the 77 th minute gave hope of a comeback but it proved only to be a consolation as Palace passed the 40 points barrier, and won away for the eighth time this season The result, combined with Chelsea’s draw wit

Alexandre Lacazette's first half free-kick secured a victory for a defensively sound Arsenal to beat Napoli 3-0 on aggregate to reach the Europa League semi-finals for the second year running. The French striker won and took the freekick, a 25-yard curler which caught out keeper Alex Meret, leaving him flatfooted and all but secured victory for the English side, leaving Napoli needing four goals to go through. The home side did not trouble Petr Cech enough to give themselves a chance of an unlikely comeback, and the Italians succumbed to only their second home defeat of the season.  Hope was high in Naples, with home fans positive and optimistic about overturning the deficit, on a night when the hosts let fans into their San Paolo stadium nearly three hours before kick-off, in a bid to galvanise support. Yet instead of proving positive inspiration, the atmosphere failed to inspire, and instead appeared to put off their team, who managed only one shot on target before half-time

Arsenal travel to Naples with a two-goal advantage tonight to face Napoli in the Europa League Quarter Finals.  Having beaten the Italian side this time last week, both teams are coming into this game on the back of wins Arsenal won their Monday night encounter against Watford by one goal to nil, and Napoli beat Cheivo 3-1 Arsenal haven’t played well in their last two away games, and got lucky in their game at Watford, with Troy Deeney getting sent off early in the first half. The Gunners will have to be at their best tonight away from home against a strong Napoli side, and know that if they score once, they will force the Italians to score four goals, without conceding again.  The winners of this tie will definitely play Spanish opponents in the next round, either Valencia or Villarreal to contest a place in the final. My team to play Napoli

March proved to be quite a successful month for Arsenal, with Europa League progression, and a big win against top 4 rivals Manchester United and an international break, Arsenal began April with another win against Newcastle to reinforce Arsenal's position in the top 4. Arsenal travelled to Merseyside to play Everton in the first of five away games, in the race for top four. Arsenals away form has been woeful all season and went into this game the only team not to keep an away clean sheet. That form continued as Arsenal suffered, what could prove to be a potentially crucial blow in the race for the top four as they were beaten 1-0.  The eventual match winner, Phil Jagielka was a late addition to the starting XI in after Michael Keane was taken ill just before kick-off and the Everton captain tapped home inside ten minutes. Emery made a half time double substitution and Arsenal improved briefly in the second half, Aaron Ramsey and Henrikh Mkhitaryan going close, but it