STEVEN GERRARD revealed he loved Arsenal’s fierce staring down of Slavia Prague as they took the knee before thumping their Europa League opponents 4-0.
Thursday night’s skipper Alexandre Lacazette positioned himself right in front of the Czech side who did not kneel just days after Ondrej Kudela was slapped with a ten-game ban for racist behaviour against Rangers in the previous round.
The Gers were beaten 2-0 in the last 16 second leg at Ibrox but the feisty encounter was overshadowed after former Gunners midfielder Glen Kamara claimed Kudela had called him a ‘f***ing monkey’.
Lacazette scored two goals with Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka also finding the net as Mikel Arteta’s men won 5-1 on aggregate to set up a semi-final clash against old boss Unai Emery’s Villarreal.
Rangers and Arsenal clearly have a good relationship after the newly-crowned Scottish champs announced a commemorative pre-season friendly against the North Londoners on July 17 to mark their 150th anniversary.
And in his Friday press conference, Liverpool legend and Rangers boss Gerrard said: “I loved everything about the game.
“I loved Arsenal’s performance, I loved the way they went about it. I admired how they approached before the game, during the game and after the game.
“I’m sure Glen did as well but I was really proud watching Arsenal’s performance last night. Everything about it.
“The way they prepared for the game, the way the manager spoke, the way the players behaved before, during and after – and then to back it up with that level of performance.
“I sat there and really enjoyed that game, it was a sensational performance.”
Kamara came through the Arsenal academy set-up before heading to Scotland with Dundee in 2017 before joining Rangers two years later.
Uefa also handed Kamara a three-game ban for assaulting the Slavia Prague ace but Rangers vowed to fight the suspension.
The club will also appeal against Kemar Roofe’s four-match ban for a high challenge in the same game that left opposition keeper Ondrej Kolar with a fractured skull.
Arsenal manager Arteta – who spent two seasons at Rangers as a player – explained Lacazette’s gesture after the game and said: “They asked me and the club that they wanted to take that initiative.
“They had the right reasons for it so the club was very supportive. I was supportive.
“Thankfully, the referees and Uefa were being supportive. I think it was a good gesture.
“The captain came to me and asked me to do that. I supported them like the club did.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
