Internet Desk: The dreams of achieving impossibilities got shattered for Arsenal in the Champions League last night as the Premier League side got thumped again by 1-5 and 2-10 on aggregate to get knocked out of the competition. On the other hand, Sergio Ramos’ heroics led Spanish giant Real Madrid to beat a spirited Napoli by 3-1 to go through to the next round.
Italian side Napoli, with a 3-1 deficit in the first leg, led the European champion Real Madrid 1-0 at half time, but two headed goals from defender Sergio Ramos early in the second half turned the game before Alvaro Morata notched a third with a Cristiano Ronaldo assist as Madrid ran out 3-1 winners on the night, 6-2 on aggregate, returning to the quarterfinals.
At the Emirates, a brilliant goal from Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead, but it never looked like overhauling a 5-1 first-leg defeat. A Robert Lewandowski penalty and a red card for Laurent Koscielny ended any thought of an upset. Further goals from Arjen Robben, Douglas Costa and two from Arturo Vidal made it 5-1 on the night, 10-2 on aggregate, making for an embarrassing exit for the Gunners as cries for Arsene Wenger’s job get louder.
Some players have a quality that goes far beyond their technical qualities. Sergio Ramos may at times be a little clumsy, and he certainly gets too many red cards, but on nights like this he is Real Madrid’s most important player. When Madrid needs a goal, he has again and again been the man to have stepped up: his last seven Champions League goals have all been in the knockout stage.
Backed by a frenzied crowd at the Stadio San Paolo, Napoli had begun at a ferocious pace and clearly rattled Madrid with its pressing. Then, just as the storm seemed to be blowing out, it took a 24th-minute lead. Dries Mertens, happily recovered from his calf strain, ran on to Marek Hamsik’s first-time pass and slammed his finish across Keylor Navas and in at the far post his 16th goal in his last 15 games.
Madrid should have leveled five minutes later, but Cristiano Ronaldo, having rounded Pepe Reina, skewed his shot against the post with the goal gaping–the seventh time Madrid has hit the woodwork this season, more than any other side. Mertens then hit the post after Alan’s pass was deflected into his path, but at halftime it was 1-0 with Napoli earning its lead, having had 11 shots, more than any other side had managed against Madrid since Zinedine Zidane took over.
But Madrid has scored in each of its last 46 games and it did so again. Ramos headed in from a corner seven minutes into the second half. Five minutes later, the Madrid captain headed in another one and Madrid was through. Alvaro Morata competed the scoring in injury time after Reina had spilled a Ronaldo shot, and the holders continue their quest to match AC Milan of 1989-1990 and repeat as Champions League winners.
The humiliating defeat for Arsenal once again has raised questions about their manager Arsene Wenger, who is reportedly reluctant to be the boss of the Premier League side from the next season.