Match report as Arsenal win 4-0 at Slavia Prague to progress to the Europa League semi-finals 5-1 on aggregate; Alexandre Lacazette scores in each half, including a penalty, with Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka also on target; Gunners will now face Villarreal in the last four
Friday 16 April 2021 11:47, UK
A blistering first-half display saw Arsenal cruise past Slavia Prague 4-0 to progress to the Europa League semi-finals 5-1 on aggregate.
The visitors arrived in the Czech capital knowing they had to score to have a chance of qualifying against a Slavia team who had not lost at the Eden Arena for 18 months, but they had an early 'goal' ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee for the tightest of offsides against Emile Smith Rowe.
However, Mikel Arteta's side soon made up for that disappointment when Nicolas Pepe's neat, close-range finish gave them a deserved 18th-minute lead, which they soon doubled thanks to Alexandre Lacazette's penalty (21).
Three minutes later Arsenal were in dreamland when Bukayo Saka's low drive from the edge of the box made it 3-0, with their captain Lacazette grabbing his second of the night with 13 minutes to go to add the icing on the cake.
Arsenal will now face Villarreal and their former manager Unai Emery in the semi-finals, with the first leg in Spain on April 29, before the return leg at the Emirates on May 6.
Arsenal advanced to their third Europa League semi-final in the last four years thanks to a devastating first-half performance in Prague against opponents who rarely lose at home.
Slavia were unable to live with the Gunners before half-time as the visitors tore into their hosts right from the kick-off, going in search of the goal they needed to have any chance of making the semi-finals.
They thought they had it after just 14 minutes when Saka cut in from the right and curled a shot against the inside of the post, with the help of a touch from Ondrej Kolar, Smith Rowe reacting quickest of all to sidefoot home into the empty net.
After a length VAR check, though, the goal was ruled out for an extremely close offside call against Smith Rowe, who soon got over his disappointment to set up Pepe for the opener.
The young Englishman showed quick feet in a tight space in the box, before cleverly feeding Pepe and the Ivory Coast forward held off a firm challenge from behind to score at the near post.
Just moments later, Arsenal increased their lead as Smith Rowe broke free down the right and, from his pull back, Saka was fouled from behind by Jakub Hromada, with Lacazette stroking home the resulting penalty.
A rampant Arsenal added a third goal in the blink of an eye after a lovely flowing move saw Calum Chambers find Saka down the right, with the England international cutting back inside and beating a motionless Kolar at his near post with a low drive.
That really was that, with the home team - who did not have a shot on target in the game - removing all their key players at half-time in order to preserve them for their title battle with city rivals Sparta Prague.
All of which allowed Arsenal, who were again missing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the forward continues his recovery from malaria, to add a fourth when Pepe got free down the left, before crossing for Lacazette to smash home his seventh goal in his last nine games for the club.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: "For me it is a joy to watch them [Saka and Smith Rowe] play, to watch them every day in training.
"How they behave, the passion and the commitment they have for the club. And then how much they like to play football.
"You have to let them express themselves, and give them certain frameworks to work in and some ideas on how they can exploit their qualities. Then it is up to them and I thought both of them were really good today.
"Credit to [all] the players, for how they approached the game and how brave they were in their approach.
"We were brave, we were efficient, we put them under a lot of pressure. And in the final third we were really clinical.
"We know how important the competition is."
Smith Rowe returned to Arsenal's starting line-up in place of Gabriel Martinelli and boy were the visitors were glad as the youngster turned in yet another accomplished display for someone of his age.
The 20-year-old was pretty much involved in all Arsenal's best moves, starting by showing alertness to fire his side ahead early on, only for the dreaded VAR to intervene and rule out that strike.
Not that it mattered as soon his dancing feet in the box left a posse of Slavia defenders mesmerised, before a gorgeous pass set up Pepe for the crucial opener and he then found Saka in the move that led to the visitors winning a penalty.
The England U21 international was also involved in the eye-catching move that led to Arsenal's third goal that killed the game off entirely, with the player now one of the first names down on Arteta's team sheet.
In the latest Pitch to Post Preview show, Kate Burlaga is joined by Ben Grounds, Adam Bate and Kaveh Solhekol to preview the weekend's football action.
PART 1 - Everton vs Tottenham preview - top-four chances assessed | Is Spurs' Premier League position about right?
PART 2 - West Ham looking for unprecedented top-four finish | Is Moyes manager of the year? | What is Jesse Lingard's future?
PART 3 - Arsenal and Man Utd's Europa League chances after QF progression | Saka and Smith Rowe firing Gunners
Slavia Prague travel to Liberec on Sunday afternoon (3pm).
Meanwhile, Arsenal take on struggling Fulham at the Emirates on Sunday, with the game kicking off at 1.30pm on Sky Sports Premier League.
First legs: April 29 | Second legs: May 6
The Europa League final takes place on Wednesday, May 26 at the Gdansk Arena in Poland. The stadium was due to host the 2020 final, but after the tournament was delayed due to Covid-19, the showpiece took place in Cologne, Germany as Sevilla beat Inter 3-2.
