Arsenal the best-represented side in Europa League team of the round
While they were under pressure to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Europa League, Arsenal still got the job done and are the best represented team in the WhoScored.com Europa League team of the round. Four Gunners performers make the cut, with midfielder Aaron Ramsey the star man with a WhoScored.com rating of 8.42.
The Wales international scored more goals (3) than any other player in the quarter-finals of the Europa League and returned eight shots and six interceptions against CSKA Moscow. Arsenal teammate Mesut Ozil features alongside Ramsey in midfield having chipped in with nine key passes – no player made more – and two assists in the 6-3 aggregate win over CSKA to gain a WhoScored.com rating of 8.30.
Former Liverpool man and Lazio midfielder Lucas Leiva partners Ramsey in the middle of the park. Lazio may have crashed out of the competition at Salzburg’s expense, but the Brazilian was an impressive performer no less as he made 15 tackles and interceptions combined and provided one assist from his three key passes. Atletico Madrid star Koke rounds off the midfield after the Spaniard gained a WhoScored.com rating of 7.70. The Spaniard netted early on in the first leg 2-0 win over Sporting and chipped in with seven key passes, three dribbles, four interceptions and three tackles.
Lazio exited the Europa League at the hands of Salzburg, yet it wasn’t for want of trying from Ciro Immobile, who scored twice in the two-legged affair with the Austrian outfit. Seven shots and two key passes helped gain a WhoScored.com rating of 7.27 and a place in the team of the quarter-finals. Munas Dabbur has been in good form for Salzburg in the Europa League this season and proved his worth with a goal and an assist as they knocked Lazio out of the competition.
The Israeli striker also made two key passes and five successful dribbles to gain a WhoScored.com rating of 7.79. Salzburg teammate Stefan Lainer also makes the cut at right-back having netted in Thursday’s 4-1 win over Lazio to guarantee the Austrian side a place in the semi-final of the Europa League. He pressed forward well, making five dribbles over the two legs, while two tackles and three interceptions contributed to a WhoScored.com rating of 7.37.
On the opposite flank, Jordan Amavi makes the cut after two solid displays against RB Leipzig to gain an average WhoScored.com rating of 7.35 over the two legs. The former Aston Villa left-back made 10 tackles and interceptions combined and, like Lainer, pressed forward well, completing three dribbles across 180 minutes of action.
Arsenal centre-back pair Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi round off the defence in this XI. Between them, the duo made six tackles, 13 interceptions and 34 clearances to return respective WhoScored.com ratings of 7.39 and 7.45 as Arsene Wenger’s side made it to a European semi-final for the first time in nine years.
Atletico Madrid star shotstopper Jan Oblak completes the side after two solid goalkeeping displays the 2-1 aggregate win over Sporting. The highly rated 25-year-old made nine saves – no goalkeeper made more – over the two legs, while an additional two cross claims saw him gain a WhoScored.com rating of 7.34.
