Europa League

ARSENAL star Alexandre Lacazette was forced out of his team’s 1-1 draw with Fulham after picking up an apparent injury.The 29-year-old limped off in the 70th minute clutching his left hamstring – just 11 days before the Gunners face Villarreal in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
Lacazette goes down clutching his left hamstringCredit: Reuters
The 29-year-old limps off and is now a doubt for their Europa League semi-final against VillarrealCredit: PA
If the hamstring injury is confirmed, Mikel Arteta could be without the in-form striker for the rest of the season.
Hamstring injuries usually take between two to four weeks to heal but can be longer if the tear is substantial.
A confirmed tear will all but rule him out the first leg against Villarreal on April 29 – and it is unlikely he’d be fit for the return game a week later.
Should Arsenal overcome the Spanish side – managed by former boss and three-time Europa League winner Unai Emery – they will face either Manchester United or Roma in the final on May 26.
Lacazette would probably be fit for the showpiece event as it’s still more than five weeks away – but there are no guarantees at this stage.
Arsenal, who are nine points behind West Ham in fourth, will almost certainly need to win the Europa League if they want to qualify for the Champions League.
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They will be hoping the French striker’s apparent injury isn’t serious as he scored four goals in his previous two games before today, picking up braces against Sheffield United and Slavia Prague.
He took the knee in front of the Slavia players on Thursday night after defender Ondrej Kudela was given a ten-match ban by UEFA for alleged racist abuse towards Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara.
Lacazette is Arsenal’s top scorer this season with 17 goals in all competitions.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Eddie Nketiah – who scored Arsenal’s 97th-minute equaliser against Fulham – said: “Firstly I wish Laca a speedy recovery – he’s important to the team and hopefully will be back as soon as possible. 
“For me I stay patient and I’m happy to get the chance to play and I will be ready to help the team if I’m called upon.”
Arsenal are currently without captain and star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after he contracted malaria.
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Alexandre Lacazette makes powerful anti-racism statement by kneeling in front of Slavia Prague stars after Glen Kamara abuse More

ROMA defender Chris Smalling is in a race to be fit to face his former club Manchester United in the Europa League semi-finals.The 31-year-old missed his side’s quarter-final tie against Ajax due to knee problems.
Smalling is in a race to face his former club in the Europa LeagueCredit: Reuters
But according to Gazetta dello Sport there is a belief one of Smalling or fellow centre-back Leonardo Spinazzola will be fit for the first leg against Man Utd on April 29.
Roma will already be without defenders Marash Kumbulla and Gianluca Mancini through injury and suspension.
Earlier this week, Smalling was robbed at gunpoint in front of his wife and toddler son when three hooded men broke into his home.
The ex-England defender was sleeping when the armed thugs broke into his home and forced him to open his safe.
He proceeded to hand over a Rolex and other items of jewellery.
Smalling joined Roma on loan from Man Utd in 2019 and impressed the Italian side.
He then made his move to Serie A permanent at the beginning of the 2020-21 campaign as the Red Devils offloaded him for £18million.
Over a decade at Old Trafford, the English defender played 323 times for Man Utd.

Since joining Roma he has become a regular in their side, featuring 54 times over his two seasons at the club.
But recurring injuries have sidelined him for periods of this campaign and Roma will hope that does not rule him out of their tie against Man Utd.
The winner of the Europa League semi-final will face either Villarreal or Arsenal in the final.

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BRUNO FERNANDES has heaped praise on Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani after the Uruguayan netted his 50th European goal against Granada on Thursday.The 34-year-old reached the milestone within just six minutes of the Red Devils’ Europa League quarter-final second leg at Old Trafford, volleying home superbly from a Paul Pogba flick-on.
Cavani ruthlessly buried his chance for a 50th European goal on Thursday nightCredit: AFP
It was the Uruguayan’s second goal in five days having netted last weekend against SpursCredit: AP
And Fernandes, who has been the talisman for Man Utd so far this season, is a massive fan of what Cavani brings to the team.
He said: “Everyone knows Cavani, everything he does, he is a proper striker, we know the qualities of our players.
“It was a good game, Europa League is always difficult, they can create danger but we controlled the game, had the ball a lot.
“I don’t think it was bad tempered, we keep moving, do the right things, 2-0 again is really good for us.
“Now is the time to take the next step and win a semi final but we must focus on the next game which is the league.”
Since joining at the start of the season, Cavani has netted nine goals in 30 games in all competitions.
However, his up and down form throughout the campaign has led his future at the club to be called into question.
The South American, who signed a one-year deal with United with the option of an additional 12 months if both parties agree, has been heavily linked with a move to Boca Juniors.

Earlier this month, former Man Utd defender Marcus Rojo talked up the possibility of Cavani joining him at the Argentine club.
Confirming he would ‘co-operate’ to persuade Cavani to sign for the Buenos Aires-based club, Rojo said: “Of course and apart from that he wants it, which is important.
“When I told him I had the possibility of signing for Boca, he told me about his situation.
“He said he had spoken with the club’s vice-president Roman Riquelme and he really liked the option and it would interest him in the future.
“I’m no-one to say if he’s going to come or not, that’s his choice, he has to take that decision with his family.”
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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.
Steven Gerrard lauded Arsenal’s work before and during their win over Slavia PragueCredit: Rex
Lacazette knelt right in front of the Czech side before the Europa League quarter-final second legCredit: AFP
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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Alexandre Lacazette makes powerful anti-racism statement by kneeling in front of Slavia Prague stars after Glen Kamara abuse More

MIKEL ARTETA will take on his predecessor Unai Emery for a place in the Europa Leauge final.Arsenal dispatched Slavia Prague 4-0 in their quarter-final second leg while Villarreal saw off Tottenham’s conquerors Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 on aggregate.

And that set up a mouth-watering semi-final clash between the last two Gunners managers.
Villarreal host the first leg on April 29 before Emery heads back to the Emirates a week later.
The three-time Europa League winner replaced Arsene Wenger in 2018 but only lasted until November 2019 before getting his marching orders.
Arteta, 39, was lured back to North London to take over, leaving his role as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City while Emery returned to their homeland by landing the Villarreal job.
But how are the two Spaniards faring in their roles this season – and who is doing better?
On the face of it, the stats are pretty even – both have picked up 26 victories in all competitions.
However, Emery, 49, boats a slightly better win percentage at 55 per cent from 47 matches compared to Arteta’s 53 per cent from 49.
Villarreal have 14 draws in the 2020-21 campaign while Arsenal have just eight.

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But the Gunners do have more than double the number of defeats with 15 to just seven for the Yellow Submarine.
On the goals front, Arteta’s side are more entertaining for the neutral with 91 scored and 60 shipped.
Villarreal are on 83 for and 42 against this term.
Finally, domestically it is fairly even.
Arsenal languish ninth in the Premier League and look certain to miss out on European football next season unless they go all the way and win the Europa League.
They reached the fourth round of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup quarter-finals but did win the Community Shield in August.

Villarreal sit seventh in LaLiga with eight games remaining, 15 points adrift of the Champions League spots and seven clear of Granada in eighth.
They suffered late heartache in the Copa del Rey after Levante scored a 121st-minute winner in their quarter-final clash.
Arteta knows despite not getting the best out of the Arsenal players during his time at the club, Emery poses a serious threat to the Gunners in the semis.
He said: “It will be really tough. They are a top team.
“Unai is probably the most successful manager in this competition. I am totally aware of that.”
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Mikel Arteta replaced Unai Emery in the Emirates dugout in December 2019Credit: Getty
Alexandre Lacazette led the Gunners into the semi-finals to set up the reunion with their former bossCredit: Reuters
Mikel Arteta reacts to Arsenal’s brilliant 4-0 victory over Slavia Prague in the Europa League which sees the Gunners through to the semi finals More