“It was really nice when the fans were behind us" - All the best reaction to Arsenal's victory over Rapid Vienna

     

“It was really nice when the fans were behind us" - All the best reaction after Arsenal's 4-1 victory over Rapid Vienna in the Europa League on Thursday night.

by Adam Le Roux

How great was it to see fans back in the Emirates last night? And what a performance they were treated to, as Arsenal swept aside Rapid Vienna 4-1 to maintain their 100% record in this season’s Europa League.

Alexandre Lacazette staked his claim for a starting berth in Sunday’s North London Derby with a sumptuous long-range effort just ten minutes in, as the 2000 supporters in attendance were treated to one of the goals of the season so far. 

And a good night just kept getting better for the Gunners, as long-term absentee Pablo Mari found the net on his return to the team after six months out, as the centre back nodded in a corner to double the advantage.

Eddie Nketiah rounded off a sublime passing move to make it three just before half-time, with six separate Arsenal players all involved, and just nine touches of the ball between them before the 21-year-old found the net. 

Koya Kitagawa pulled one back for the visitors just after the break, before Emile Smith-Rowe capped of a dominant performance with the fourth as Ainsley Maitland-Niles put the ball on a plate for his fellow academy graduate to roll in to an empty net. 

It was the perfect pick me up for the Gunners after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Wolves, and will fill them with confidence heading to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend to face their table-topping neighbours.

Fans bring back the buzz

It was the moment we’ve all been yearning for since March, the sound of turnstiles clinking, and seats being sat on, the return of Arsenal supporters to the Emirates. 

There may have only have been a couple of thousand let in for this one, but the hum around the Emirates was a joy to hear, knowing that the sounds of the stadium were genuine and not manufactured made the watch so much sweeter. 

And the effect of the Gunners supporters in attendance didn’t go unnoticed by the team, with goalscorer Lacazette keen to state how much their influence had on his performance. 

“It was really nice when the fans were behind us. The last couple of weeks were not easy for me, but to see the fans behind me and the team is really nice, so I really enjoyed it. Thanks to them tonight,” the Frenchman said.

Mikel Arteta was just as pleased to see his side have an audience to perform in front of, but sent out a warning message for anyone attending: his side needs backing not booing.

“I expect them to be very supportive of the team, because in the end it’s the only way to get out of this situation,” the Spaniard said. 

“It’s not a secret. When you see the top teams, the stable teams that win trophies, how [fans] act towards the team, name me one where they go against the team. I haven’t seen it, so the only way to do it is with them and we need them.”

Excellent Ainsley was everywhere

Is there a position that Ainsley Maitland-Niles can’t play? Well, if there is, we are yet to find it. The 23-year-old excelled once again last night, this time in a more attacking midfield position where he seemed to thrive.

The England international seemed to be involved in much of the flowing football that Arsenal produced going forward, with his boundless energy proving a constant thorn in the side of the Austrians.

He was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself after being denied by visiting goal keeper Richard Strebinger, but set up Smith-Rowe for the fourth after a lung-busting run to support the attack.

And his performance caught the eye of his boss, who was quick to heap the praise on the former-Ipswich loanee, with his adaptability making him a key part of Arteta’s plans.

“What he’s done today the great thing with Ainsley is that he can fill various positions and that’s a great thing to have in a squad,” the Arsenal boss said.

“He has played on the left as a wing back, on the right, he can play as a holding midfield, as an attacking midfielder and again the performances like tonight helps, and he has a chance to play like anyone else.”

                               

Once again, the young Gunners impressed in another comfortable Europa League victory, with Arteta delighted with the attacking mindset his youthful side imposed on the game. 

“They have it in their minds that they want to make those runs, make that final pass, they want to shoot and at the moment we need that: we need people with the mindset to score goals,” he continued. 

“They want to go there, they want to take their chances, they want to be aggressive when they have the ball and when the ball is far from them, they have to make it to the box because the middle of the goal is when goals are scored. 

“When you get in those positions constantly, the chances of scoring goals increases so it is good to see that.”

Will Thomas have a Part to play?

It was just one sentence, but it will have filled Arsenal fans with hope heading into this weekend’s win-at-all-costs tie, as Arteta gave an update on Thomas Partey’s return from injury.

The boss said: “Well, he’s putting a lot of pressure to us, he’s training tomorrow with us and let’s see how it goes in the next couple of days.”

Gunners supporters have been in limbo over the Ghanaian’s return to action for a number of weeks, with the extent of the setback suffered in the 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa never fully clarified.

The former-Atletico Madrid man would be a welcome addition to the engine room against Tottenham on Sunday, with Jose Mourinho’s side likely to be as combative as ever in the middle of the park, and Partey’s presence will go some way to disrupting the impact of Lucas Moura, Harry Kane and co.

As clues go, it is as ambiguous as it gets, but it leaves Arsenal fans hopeful that the summer signing will be back on the pitch at the home of their nearest and dearest this weekend. 

It’s been six years since the Gunners took all three points on the road against Spurs, but with the £45m man in the team, it would strengthen the spine of side and give them a fighting chance of getting something from the game on Sunday.

Picture credit: Getty Images