Europa League semi-finals Slavia Prague 0-4 Arsenal
Semi-finals Arsenal secured what manager Mikel Arteta called an "important win in a crucial moment" as they impressively swept aside Slavia Prague to reach the Europa League semi-finals. The Gunners produced one of their best performances to turn a potentially difficult night into a fine away victory.
With the tie evenly poised at 1-1, they scored three goals in the opening 24 minutes and had another ruled out by the video assistant referee, all but ending the contest in the opening period. It kept alive their hopes of winning the competition and with it their only realistic chance of European football next season. The boys were really at it from the start," Arteta said. "We won convincingly, so credit to the players."
Nicolas Pepe squeezed home at the near post to open the scoring in the 18th minute before Alexandre Lacazette converted a penalty three minutes later following a foul on Bukayo Saka coolly swept in the third as Arsenal tore their Czech opponents apart once more. Arteta's side controlled the game expertly thereafter, and Lacazette smashed his second low into the net in the latter stages.
The Gunners will face Villarreal, managed by former Arsenal boss Unai Emery in the last four. Manchester United meet Roma in the other semi-final after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side comfortably saw off Granada. This was Arsenal's biggest game remaining this season. Had they lost, their campaign would have effectively been over. Instead, they breathed life into its final two months.
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