UNAI EMERY earned many plaudits for revitalising Arsenal in the early months of his Emirates Stadium stay, but he must make changes to avoid being dumped out of the Europa League on Thursday.

The Gunners take on Napoli with a strong 2-0 aggregate lead but Monday's narrow win at Watford was the exception that proved the rule for their worrying away form.

With seven defeats in his side's last 12 games on the road, Emery cannot expect the Italians to fail to hit the net like Watford did.

Keeping the Hornets out required the woodwork twice and counted as their first away day clean sheet in the league this campaign, with their previous two coming in 2018 and 2017, respectively.

That should prompt changes and a return to a five-man defence is necessary to spread his players out after they looked lost in Monday's 4-2-3-1 setup.

Shkodran Mustafi at right-back was always a makeshift ploy and the German should be moved back into the middle, with Sokratis also available amid a domestic suspension.

Far from perfect at monitoring the entire flank alone, Ainsley Maitland-Niles at least has agility and, despite being only 21, can handle himself on the European stage.

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Ultimately, Watford's threat was largely through the middle and Emery sought to match their midfield congestion at Vicarage Road.

But Napoli will offer far more width – and should have 11 men – deploying a 4-4-2 with fierce attackers who have scored three or more goals at home on nine occasions this year.

Therefore Emery should keep Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka in to maintain a defensive base in front of the final third, making Mesut Ozil the man to miss out.

The playmaker has been notoriously underwhelming on the road and came on to little effect at Watford, emphasising how Aaron Ramsey's all-round game is more suited to this kind of tie.

No team averages more possession in Serie A than Carlo Ancelotti's side and Ramsey offers Arsenal's best hope at hurrying opponents on the ball as well as breaking out on the counter.

Alex Iwobi impressed on Monday and was arguably his team's greatest threat, and Emery may utitilise the Nigerian down the middle at Stadio San Paolo.

Using Iwobi as an option off the bench to liven up proceedings is also an asset for the Gunners, with it difficult to justify leaving out either Alexandre Lacazette or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

This would also mean curtains for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, whose lack of energy gave his marker an easy night at Watford.

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One of Emery's most noticeable problems was his side's inability to get the ball forward, keep it there, and build pressure.

On Thursday, two strikers will be a real necessity for doing this and an away goal is vital given the Gunners' terrible defensive record away from North London.

Pushing back towards the side that comfortably won the first leg in a tactical system that, while having its flaws, the players are comfortable in is integral to arguably Emery's most important game since taking over last summer.

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