Alexandre Lacazette stared into the soul of Slavia Prague players while taking the knee ahead of tonight's Europa League quarter-final second leg.
While Arsenal players and the referee did the gesture to continue to send a message against racism and discrimination, Slavia players were huddled together as they did in the first leg at the Emirates.
But Lacazette, captain on the night, meant business as he looked directly at the Czech Republic outfit in a defiant act.
Lacazette :fist::heart: pic.twitter.com/aHlh1SYr00
- Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 15, 2021
Karma's a bitch. pic.twitter.com/VVyQlRC2wb
- Football Ramble (@FootballRamble) April 15, 2021
pic.twitter.com/z1Uzk6cu5m
- Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) April 15, 2021
Alexandre Lacazette putting in a huge shift, the penalty, the pressing, the linking, showing for the ball, dropping off to fill space, leading by example, taking the knee right in front of Slavia, looking a real captain tonight. Only Slavia but still. #SLAARS
- Henry Winter (@henrywinter) April 15, 2021
Slavia recently had defender Ondrej Kúdela banned for a further nine games under the UEFA banner after he was found guilty of racially abusing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara in the previous round.
He reacted angrily and said "he's f***ing racist" - with teammate Bongani Zungu telling the referee that the Czech Republic international used the word 'monkey' - with Kamara reiterating that was the exact slur he was subjected to.
He told ITV: "[Kudela] came over and said 'you're a monkey, you're a f****** monkey and you know you are'. From there I reacted and said 'he's racist, he's racist'.
"From there I had a lot of emotions going through my mind; angry, upset, I felt humiliated. All my family, friends, fans, whoever is watching, I felt like a little boy.
"Words can't explain how I felt. Hopefully, I never have to feel that again. It was crazy really."
The club's conduct through various statements following the incident at Ibrox was widely condemned, while some of the supporters displayed a disgusting banner containing a vile racist message aimed at Kamara.
Arsenal were in fine form in the second leg, with Nicolas Pepe, Lacazette (penalty) and Bukayo Saka all on target in a breathtaking six-minute period in the first half.
Lacazette would then had a second in the 77th minute to give Arsenal a 5-1 aggregate lead and set up a semi-final with Villarreal, managed by former Gunners boss Unai Emery.
Topics: Football, Europa League, Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette
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