ARSENAL are into the Europa League semi-finals after a terrific performance against Slavia Prague.
- Final score: Slavia Prague 0-4 Arsenal
- Goalscorers: Pepe 18′, Lacazette 21′ (pen) 77′, Saka 24′.
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THAT’s ALL FOR TONIGHT
Arsenal, despite being under pressure, got the job done in Prague and the there’s a good chance we could see an all-English Europa League final!
Arsenal will play their semi-final first leg in Spain against Villarreal on Thursday April 29.
And the second leg will take place on May 6.
In terms of what’s to come here on SunSport, we’ve got a mixture of FA Cup and Premier League action coming up this weekend so keep an eye out!
Goodnight.
ALL GUNNS BLAZING
UNAI EMERY are you ready? Because Arsenal are out to show their former manager that they are determined to go all the way in the Europa League.
And it is Emery’s Villarreal who are standing in their way after Mikel Arteta’s men set up a semi-final blockbuster in devastating style.
Was it really only two years ago that Emery led the Gunners to the Europa League final before they were hammered 4-1 by Chelsea in Baku?
Because little more than six months after that Azerbaijani annihilation poor old Unai was on his bike when he was ruthlessly axed by Stan Kroenke.
Now Emery has a first opportunity to take his revenge on the team who appeared to chuck in the towel during the final weeks of his ill-fated Emirates reign.
Read More: Slavia Prague 0 Arsenal 4 (1-5 AGG) Match Report
ARTETA’s THOUGHTS
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: “We started the game really well, really aggressive in our high press.
“We regained the ball every time they were attacking. We were really composed in our finishing in the final third and scored some great goals.
“The clean sheet is important as well, it’s the second one in two games and we need to build on that.
“The boys were really at it from the start and they showed real quality.”
SAKA SPEAKS
Goal-scorer Saka spoke to BT Sport after the game: “It was fantastic from start to finish. We did it for all the fans.
“They deserve it for all the support they give us. I think we showed real character.
“After the first one was disallowed we kept going… We were really strong in the first half and pretty much killed the game.
“I feel in the first leg we played really well, we just weren’t clinical. If we had taken our chances, it would have been a similar result.
“This shows everyone how exciting we can be… When we play like this it’s so exciting to be involved.
‘We have the quality, we just have to show the performances and game management that we did today.”
EMERY AWAITS
The Europa League specialist, Unai Emery, will face his old team in the semi-finals.
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Here’s a recap of all of tonight’s Europa League quarter-final results:
- Slavia Prague 0-4 Arsenal (1-5 AGG) FT
- Villarreal 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb (3-1 AGG) FT
- Man Utd 2-0 Granada (4-0 AGG) FT
- Roma 1-1 Ajax (3-2 AGG) FT
Semi-finals:
- Villarreal vs Arsenal
- Man Utd vs Roma
FULL-TIME STATS
Arsenal were ruthless in front of goal, and Leno keeps his first clean sheet in eight games.
FT: SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-4 ARSENAL (1-5 AGG)
Lacazette scored the only goal of the second half, controlling Pepe’s cross before firing past Kolar.
Mikel Arteta’s men have delivered under the pressure, and they’re now through to the Europa League semi-finals.
They’ll face former boss Unai Emery, who manages Spanish side Villarreal – and the first leg will be in Spain.
We could potentially have an all-English final if Man Utd beat Roma in their semi-final and Arsenal do the business.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE GOES IN PRAGUE!
ARSENAL ARE THROUGH TO THE SEMI-FINALS!
SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-4 ARSENAL (1-5 AGG)
90. The second half has been soooo boring that there will be just ONE additional minute to be added on.
SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-4 ARSENAL (1-5 AGG)
87. SUBSTITUTION!
Balogun is on for Pepe for the remaining three minutes or so.
SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-4 ARSENAL (1-5 AGG)
85. Martinelli gets the beating of Masopust down the left-hand side and cuts inside onto his right foot.
The Brazilian gets a shot off but drags his effort just wide of the far post. Poor finish after a great run.
SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-4 ARSENAL (1-5 AGG)
83. Xhaka wins the battle against Olayinka on the edge of Arsenal’s penalty area, relieving some pressure.
SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-4 ARSENAL (1-5 AGG)
80. YELLOW CARD!
Martinelli is booked a matter of minutes after just coming on for Arsenal.
Lacazette celebrates his second goalCredit: GETTY IMAGES SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-4 ARSENAL (1-5 AGG)
78. SUBSTITUTION!
Lacazette, Saka and Partey make way for Nketiah, Martinelli and Cedric.
SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-4 ARSENAL (1-5 AGG)
75. Pepe gets down the left-hand side and delivers a low cross into the penalty area, picking out Lacazette.
The Frenchman controls the ball, shifts it out of his feet and fires past Kolar!
It’s game over in Prague, Arsenal have got the job done against a team which has proved hard to beat at home.
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!!
LACAZETTE SCORES HIS SECOND OF THE EVENING!!!
GAME OVER!!!
SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-3 ARSENAL (1-4 AGG)
71. Slavia Prague are yet to register a shot on target in six attempts, it’s been a poor showing in front of goal.
But then again, in the first leg of this tie, they didn’t really see much of Leno’s goal until the equaliser.
Credit: GETTY IMAGES SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-3 ARSENAL (1-4 AGG)
70.SUBSTITUTION!
Kuchta has seen very little of the ball, and he’s being subbed off for Tecl.
SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-3 ARSENAL (1-4 AGG)
67. Slavia are continuing to hold onto the ball, but they’re doing very little with it.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have scored three and they’re cruising towards another Europa League semi-final.
But standing in their way of a final, potentially, is former boss Unai Emery who took Arsenal to the Europa League final in Baku a couple of years back, but unfortunately lost!
SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-3 ARSENAL (1-4 AGG)
65. SUBSTITUTION!
Smith Rowe’s super night comes to an end and he is replaced by defensive-minded midfielder Elneny.
SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-3 ARSENAL (1-4 AGG)
64. Just over 26 minutes left in this second leg quarter-final tie, and we’re yet to see a really effort on goal.
Slavia Prague are playing like a team who know they’re beaten, and Arsenal know they’re all-but through.
Credit: GETTY IMAGES SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-3 ARSENAL (1-4 AGG)
62. YELLOW CARD!
Olayinka is booked for his reaction to a challenge from Xhaka.
Ceballos rolled around after being brushed by the forward on his way to take the free-kick.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
