Alexandre Lacazette Stared Out Slavia Prague Players While Taking The Knee Ahead Of Europa League Game

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.

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.

Footage showed Kudela covering his mouth and whispering something untoward in Kamara's ear.

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.

Image: PA

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

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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