Four from Arsenal in Europa League quarter-final XI after nullifying Napoli

 

With last night bringing the quarter-final stage of this season’s Europa League to a close, the final four are gearing up for the semis next month.

It was Arsenal who perhaps pulled off the biggest upset of the round to dump out a well-fancied Napoli side, and are rewarded with a clash with Valencia following their expulsion of La Liga counterparts Villarreal.

Eintracht Frankfurt, meanwhile, were forced to overcome a two-goal first leg deficit to book their place in the next round, where they face Chelsea, who made hard work of what was considered the easiest draw possible against Slavia Prague.

We take a look at the highest rated XI over the two legs of players to have featured in each.

Neto (Valencia) - 7.57 rating

With five saves in each leg of the clash with Villarreal, Valencia’s Neto made more than any other keeper in the quarter-finals (ten) and conceded just once, from a Santi Cazorla spot-kick.

Daniel Wass (Valencia) - 7.50 rating

Having started the first leg in central midfield, scoring with a superb strike to give Valencia the lead late on at Villarreal, the versatile Wass reverted to right-back at home and was equally effective. The Dane made six tackles over the two legs, as well as mustering four shots.

Sokratis (Arsenal) - 7.16 rating

With solid displays home and away against Napoli, Sokratis earns a spot at the back having produced three tackles and 12 clearances to help keep the Serie A side at bay in both matches.

Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) - 7.36 rating

Since returning from a long-term injury Koscielny has proven he’s still Arsenal’s strongest centre-back and was instrumental in both legs of the quarter-final. His consistency was underlined by picking up an identical rating in both matches, producing five interceptions and 11 clearances in total en route to back-to-back clean sheets.

Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal) - 7.15 rating

Another strong performer for the Gunners, Kolasinac played his part at both ends in both matches against Carlo Ancelotti’s side, with three tackles, interceptions and dribbles apiece, as well as four key passes.

 

Four from Arsenal in Europa League quarter-final XI after nullifying Napoli

 

Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal) - 7.63 rating

Arsenal’s top performer over the two legs, Maitland-Niles’ maturity and versatility has ensured that the loss of Hector Bellerin hasn’t been too keenly felt thus far. The youngster registered an assist in the victory over Napoli at the Emirates and completed three dribbles away from home to help alleviate pressure, along with eight tackles and interceptions combined over the two matches.

Sebastian Rode (Eintracht Frankfurt) - 7.46 rating

An unlikely saviour for the Bundesliga outfit, Rode scored the crucial second goal at home that saw Frankfurt through to the semi-finals. His defensive contribution with the side down to ten men was crucial in Lisbon too, ensuring Adi Hutter’s side remained in the tie, and over two legs the midfielder made seven tackles and four interceptions.

Petr Sevcik (Slavia Prague) - 7.42 rating

With two superb strikes from distance within the space of three minutes at Stamford Bridge, Sevcik gave underdogs Slavia a glimmer of hope against Chelsea in the second leg, having also assisted the visitors opener.

Filip Kostic (Eintracht Frankfurt) - 8.51 rating

With a crucial goal to bring the Bundesliga side back into the tie in the second leg, Kostic is our player of the round following a crucial contribution both with and without the ball. No player created more chances or completed more tackles in the quarter-finals (both ten), with the winger also completing six dribbles.

 

Four from Arsenal in Europa League quarter-final XI after nullifying Napoli

 

Joao Felix (Benfica) - 8.02 rating

Having netted a first leg hat-trick on home turf against Eintracht and assisted another goal in Lisbon, teenage sensation will no doubt have felt he had fired his side to the semi-finals by the time his third went in, but the German outfit had other ideas. Nevertheless, the 19-year-old had six shots over the two games and created four chances to warrant his spot up front.

Ante Rebic (Eintracht Frankfurt) - 7.93 rating

Playing in a more advanced position than usual to owing to an injury to striker Sebastian Haller, Rebic led the line superbly for Adi Hutter’s side in the Frenchman’s absence. The Croatian registered assists in both legs having created nine chances in total, carried the ball himself to complete seven dribbles and won ten aerial duels across two selfless displays.

Four from Arsenal in Europa League quarter-final XI after nullifying Napoli