The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Gunners blast past Slavia into semis
Arsenal turned on the style to ease past Slavia Prague and set up a Europa League semi-final tie against former head coach Unai Emery’s Villarreal.
With the tie finely-poised following a 1-1 home draw a week ago, the Gunners put in one of their best showings under Mikel Arteta to win 4-0 in Prague.
Nicolas Pepe opened the scoring as his fine Europa League campaign continues, with an Alexandre Lacazette brace and a Bukayo Saka strike more than enough to see them through.
They will meet Villarreal in the last four as Emery, sacked after just 18 months in charge of Arsenal after succeeding Arsene Wenger, looks to win a fourth Europa League title as a manager.
Slavia’s late leveller in north London last week appeared to tilt the balance of the tie in favour of the Czech outfit, who had seen off Leicester City and Rangers in earlier rounds.
They had not lost at home since November 2019 when Inter Milan were victorious, a run of 30 matches without tasting defeat.
Meanwhile, only Nice and Rangers had managed to even score at the Sinobo Stadium in European competition this season – but Arsenal made a mockery of those statistics with three first-half goals.
Both results came without captain
Pierre-emerick Aubameyang, who revealed on Instagram before the game that he contracted malaria while on international duty with Gabon last month.
Edinson Cavani set Manchester United on course for a comfortable victory against Granada as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side reached the semi-finals for the second successive season.
Marcus Rashford’s fine goal and a late Bruno Fernandes penalty in Spain last week put the Red Devils in control of the quarterfinal tie heading into last night’s reverse fixture at an empty Old Trafford.
United extinguished any hope of a remarkable Granada turnaround when veteran Cavani volleyed home in the sixth minute, with Jesus Vallejo’s late own goal wrapping up a 2-0 win on the night, 4-0 on aggregate.
The reward is a mouthwatering semi-final clash against Roma and a reunion with Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, starters when United won the Europa League in 2017.
Paul Pogba captained the side last night in the absence of Harry Maguire – one of three suspended players – and was withdrawn at the end of a first half in which Granada called for him to receive a second booking.
Roma held off Ajax to win 3-2 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in Italy last night.