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Tag: Unai Emery

  • EPL: Unai Emery names new Arsenal captain

    EPL: Unai Emery names new Arsenal captain

    Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has named midfielder Granit Xhaka as the club’s new permanent captain, replacing Laurent Koscielny, who left for Bordeaux in the summer.

    Emery told the squad of his decision on Friday, after consulting with players.

    The Switzerland international, 27, has led the side in six of their eight games in all competitions this season.

    Arsenal’s next game is away to Manchester United in the Premier League on Monday.

    Emery is still deliberating over a vice-captain, with forwards Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang understood to be the leading contenders.

  • EPL: We’re in a good moment, says Emery after Newcastle win

    EPL: We’re in a good moment, says Emery after Newcastle win

    Arsenal manager Unai Emery expressed delight at the performance of his boys against Newcastle United, saying the team was in a good moment.

    Goals from Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette gave Arsenal a 2-0 win over Newcastle United on Monday night.

    The win lifted them to third place in the English Premier League (EPL) above rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

    “We were very consistent over 90 minutes. We didn’t concede any chances. We created and dominated the match. We are happy,” Emery told reporters in his post-match reaction.

    “Each match is very difficult. We got three points and did it our way. It’s a nice challenge to win consecutive matches, it’s a new history and we’re creating our own way.

    “We’re in a good moment. but each match is a new test.

    “I hope Ramsey’s injury is not serious. The doctor is thinking it’s a small injury.

    “We are improving. Today we are third, but the next match against Everton is difficult and our rivals are going to win a lot of matches,” he said.

    Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez, on his part, admitted that his boys played against a better team, adding that there were little or no allowance for error when playing against a top side like Arsenal.

    “We played against a good team and were fine for a while in the first half. We could avoid their goal, it was a little bit lucky.

    “We had situations on the counter attack where we could be more dangerous, but we didn’t do it.

    “The last 10 minutes they had chances to score but until the second goal we were pushing. It is a shame because you could feel the atmosphere was getting nervous.

    “When you play top sides away it can be a mistake which makes the difference. In the end it was a mistake and we must learn from this and be ready for the next one.

    “I think 38 points is enough [to stay up], 40 just in case. Hopefully it will be less,” he said.

  • Europa: Emery hails Arsenal’s strength under pressure

    Europa: Emery hails Arsenal’s strength under pressure

    Arsenal manager Unai Emery hailed his side’s ability to cope under pressure after they came back from a 3-1 loss in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie.

    They beat French side Rennes 3-0 on Thursday to advance 4-3 on aggregate to the quarter-finals of Europe’s second-tier club competition.

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck either side of an Ainsley Maitland-Niles goal as the North London side joined local rivals Chelsea.

    Arsenal became only the second team in Europa League history to win a tie after losing the first leg 3-1.

    “This comeback was very difficult, but I think the reaction was very good from every player,” Emery told reporters.

    “We can be proud of our players today because it was a very difficult week — (Manchester) United on Sunday and today against Rennes.”

    Arsenal’s 2-0 home English Premier League (EPL) win over Manchester United on Sunday kept alive their hopes of a top-four finish and a place in the UEFA Champions League next season.

    “Playing under pressure is good, growing up under pressure — with each player playing like a team and feeling the difficult moments to give us our best performance,” Emery said.

    Arsenal have missed out on UEFA Champions League football for the last two seasons, and their poor away record remains a big concern.

    Although they have no more top-six teams to face in the EPL this season, they play more away than home fixtures.

    Nevertheless, Emery said the UEFA Champions League, Europe’s premier club competition, was not his only focus.

    The Europa League — which he won three times in a row from 2014 to 2016 as manager of Sevilla — also provides the chance for silverware.

    “I said to the players today (Thursday), I’m excited (about) this competition, but it’s exciting not only for the possibility to go to the UEFA Champions League, but also because it’s one title,” he said.

    He also took note of surprising results elsewhere.

    “Today (Thursday), Inter (Milan) are out, Sevilla are out — a big surprise. And the last teams, they are all very important, and it’s going to be very difficult,” Emery said.

    For his side, the focus must always be simple.

    “We are going to think the same before every match. The next match is the most important for us,” Emery said.

  • Europa: Arsenal can overturn Rennes 3-1 first leg lead – Emery

    Europa: Arsenal can overturn Rennes 3-1 first leg lead – Emery

    Arsenal manager Unai Emery says he has confidence his side can overturn Rennes’ 3-1 lead at Emirates Stadium in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.

    Alex Iwobi’s early cross-shot had put Arsenal in front but they lost control of the game after Sokratis Papastathopoulos’ dismissal for a second booking.

    Benjamin Bourigeaud immediately drew the hosts level with a stunning strike into the top right corner, with Nacho Monreal’s own goal and Ismaila Sarr’s late header compounding a miserable evening for Arsenal.

    “The red card changed the game more than we wanted,” Emery said.

    “The first 40 minutes we controlled, we scored, we didn’t concede good chances. I think we can do better and I have confidence with our players and our supporters helping us.”

    Arsenal go into the second leg having overturned a 1-0 deficit in the last-32 stage.

    On that occasion, they progressed with a 3-0 home victory over Belarus side Bate Borisov.

  • EPL: Iwobi must stay calm, says Emery

    Arsenal attacker, Alex Iwobi has received fresh tips from the club’s coach, Unai Emery, who believes the Super Eagles star needs to keep improving and always stay calm in front of goal.

    On the backdrop of rave reviews trailing Iwobi’s performance against Bournemouth in midweek, sports247.ng reported that Emery was happy to see the youngster staying consistent, but said he must work harder.

    Iwobi has made 24 appearances in the English Premier League so far this season, scoring three goals, but Emery stressed that The Gunners’ former U-21 team captain can do more.

    Emery said: “Iwobi can open space on the overlap for them. So I think Iwobi is giving a lot for us.

    “We want to play and we want to create our philosophy and I think that Iwobi is important, but he needs to carry on improving.

    “For us, we have to be demanding from him; and himself be desiring to improve the things that he can get better at in his qualities.

    “When he’s getting into the attacking third into the box, he be calm to decide the last action with assists and scoring more,” Emery said.

  • Derby: Arsenal keen to close gap on Tottenham – Emery

    Derby: Arsenal keen to close gap on Tottenham – Emery

    Arsenal manager Unai Emery believes the opportunity to inch close to within a point of Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League will be a “big motivation” for his players ahead of Saturday’s north London derby.

    Midfielders Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan marked their sparkling return to form as Arsenal eased past Bournemouth 5-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

    The win, coupled with Tottenham’s loss at Chelsea, means fourth-placed Arsenal head to Wembley this weekend four points adrift of their local rivals.

    “It is a big motivation,” Emery told reporters.

    “We need to take the opportunity like today, these three points. After we can have and get an opportunity like Saturday.

    “They are still ahead of us in the table, and it’s difficult to win there, but it’s a good test.”

    Mkhitaryan and Ozil both put themselves in contention to start the derby with a goal apiece against Bournemouth.

    Arsenal manager Unai Emery refused to be drawn on whether the pair had done enough to feature in his tactical plans for the weekend.

    “I’m going to watch the match back, and Tottenham’s, and after that I will decide our game plan for Saturday with every player,” he added.

    “If we can play with big performance I want every player to help us with this decision.”

  • Ozil rotation will continue, says Emery after Bate win

    Ozil rotation will continue, says Emery after Bate win

    Arsenal boss Unai Emery said midfielder Mesut Ozil would continue to be rotated after making only his second start of 2019 in the Europa League victory over Bate Borisov on Thursday.

    The Gunners reached the last 16 as a 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium took them through 3-1 on aggregate.

    Ozil, 30, played the full 90 minutes for the first time since December.

    Emery said Arsenal will need the German “sometimes in the starting XI and sometimes on the bench”.

    “His spirit like today is good and his quality and capacity and combination with some players is good,” said Emery. “I think we need every player, and playing Mesut was important and positive.”

    Arsenal winger Alex Iwobi described Ozil as “world class” and said he hoped the 2014 World Cup winner can “keep on playing”.

    “We know what Mesut’s like because we see him in training every day,” he told BT Sport.

    “We scored three goals as a result of him playing. I know if I make a run he has the vision to find me.”

    Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Arsenal scored inside four minutes when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s cross was turned in by Bate defender Zakhar Volkov.

    Centre-back Shkodran Mustafi made it 2-0 before the break with a powerful header following Granit Xhaka’s corner.

    Substitute Sokratis Papastathopoulos headed in the third goal after an hour.

  • Ozil to decide his future with Arsenal – Emery

    Arsenal manager Unai Emery says “the key is in Mesut Ozil’s hands” as the midfielder tries to regain his first-team place.

    Ozil, 30, is the Gunners’ highest-paid player, having signed a £350,000-a-week contract in 2018, but has started only 13 of 26 league games this season.

    “He needs to be consistent in training and for matches, without injury or being sick,” Emery said.

    “Like that, we can see the best Mesut with us.”

    Ozil has played 216 times for Arsenal since joining from Real Madrid for a then club-record £42m in 2013.

    But he has started only one game since Boxing Day, with injuries and “tactical reasons” given as explanations for the German’s absence during the campaign.

    Last month, Emery defended his decision to leave Ozil out of the starting line-up and in December said the midfielder still has a future at the club.

  • EPL: Arsenal are top-four outsiders, Emery admits

    EPL: Arsenal are top-four outsiders, Emery admits

    Arsenal manager Unai Emery says the Gunners are outsiders to finish in the Premier League top four this season.

    Arsenal currently sit sixth in the table but are just three points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, with a resurgent Manchester United a point ahead.

    Defeat to title-chasing Manchester City last weekend has left Emery’s side without an away league win since November.

    City are battling with Liverpool and Tottenham for the title and Emery admits Arsenal cannot catch the top three – and are the underdogs in the race for Champions League qualification.

    “Now, yes,” the Spaniard replied when asked if Arsenal are the outsiders for the top four.

    “Because we are sixth. It’s practical but it is like that. I trust in our capacity to [finish fourth] but it is like that.

    “There are teams now better than us. They have an advantage to us. And we need to be calm and also very demanding of ourselves in our minds for work and to be consistent over 38 matches.

    “Now Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, also – there is big difference between us.

    “But Chelsea and Manchester United, very big teams, also have a difference [to the top three] but they are closer than us.”

    Emery takes his side to bottom club Huddersfield on Saturday and, while he concedes a top-four finish will be challenging, the Arsenal head coach will send his players out to keep those hopes alive.

     

  • Transfer news: Arsenal could sign two players – Emery

    Transfer news: Arsenal could sign two players – Emery

    Arsenal Manager Unai Emery has said his club could recruit up to two players before the transfer window closes on Thursday.

    The Arsenal boss has previously stated his preference for loan deals in January for players who can improve his squad.

    Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic handed in a transfer request at Inter Milan after Arsenal had a loan offer rejected for the winger, while Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez has also been linked.

    Emery, who would not be drawn on specific names, said, “This transfer (window) is not easy and the message is the club is working on different players and the possibility if it can be is good for us.

    “We are looking at two different players and the possibility they can come. If they aren’t coming to help us like we want, I prefer they don’t come.”