Unai Emery insists there is plenty of work still to do for Arsenal after they took a two-goal advantage over Napoli in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
The Gunners extended their fine run of home form, this their 15th win from the last 16 games at the Emirates Stadium, as an Aaron Ramsey strike and a Kalidou Koulibaly own goal gave them a 2-0 victory to take to Naples next week.
Gunners boss Unai Emery admitted on the eve of the game that he knew his team needed to win this first leg, given the stark contrast of their away form when compared to the near-perfect run at home.
The Spaniard then admitted afterwards that there is still plenty of life left in the tie and that his team must be wary of their opponents’ response next week.
‘It’s a good result but we have a big respect for them away because the first 90 minutes here we can impose the result, our game plan,’ Emery said after the game.
‘We suffered sometimes in the second half and they can control with the ball and the possession – they had one, two chances in the second half.
‘But we worked well also in transition and we had chances to finish the match with the third goal.
‘Another 90 minutes and we aware there is going to be a different match. We need to be focused, clear, not more confident than we need, to respect them. We are going to do that.’
Napoli’s performance was far below what they produced in Champions League group games against Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain earlier this season.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted he still has faith his team can turn the tie around despite their poor showing in north London.