Euro run helping Arsenal’s top four bid, says Maitland-Niles
Ainsley Maitland-Niles believes Arsenal’s run to the Europa League semi-finals will aid their Premier League top four push against Crystal Palace today.
Unai Emery’s side advanced to the last four on Thursday as Alexandre Lacazette’s goal sealed a 1-0 win in Napoli and a 3-0 aggregate success.
Arsenal face Valencia in the semi-finals, with Emery aiming to win his fourth Europa League title and seal Champions League qualification in the process.
That would be an uplifting conclusion to Emery’s first season with Arsenal, but if they fall short in the Europa League, they still have another route to the Champions League via a top four finish in the Premier League.
Currently in fourth place above Chelsea on goal difference, Arsenal have no margin for error in the league, but defender Maitland-Niles says his team have matured as a result of their European exploits and are now better at closing out matches.
“It’s a tough league in England. We’re learning different methods in Europe because sometimes we need to be more like the foreign teams and just grind out results. It’s going well at the moment,” he said.
“I think we’re gelling together very well. The manager is working with a back four, a back five, so we all know positionally what to do, not to dive in the box and not to give silly fouls away around the box as well.
“We dug deep (against Napoli). You can score as many goals as you want but if you don’t defend properly then the game could go either way.”
The only issue for Arsenal in Naples was an injury to Aaron Ramsey that will rule him out for up to three weeks.