Arsenal’s cruise to a 4-2 victory against Vorskla didn’t exactly get pulses racing at the Emirates, but the Europa League rarely does at this stage of the season.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang helped himself to a tidy brace, Danny Welbeck scored with a non-deflected header and Mesut Ozil came off the bench to score his second nonchalant effort of the week. Lots in the positive column there.
Alas, despite a ridiculously quiet night in goal for Bernd Leno, the visitors scored twice from three shots on target to halve the deficit late on. It definitely rankled Unai Emery, who’ll no doubt be scrutinising his side’s drop in concentration ahead of Sunday’s game with Everton.
“We are speaking before each match to take a mentality of ‘don’t concede chances easily’,” he told his post-match press conference.
“I think today is a good opportunity for not accepting goals, but the last 30 minutes, we needed to be better on this competitive aspect.”
He added: “It’s our disappointment today [conceding twice]. But I also, with confidence, little by little we are conceding a few chances to the opposition, the same like in Newcastle.
“But we need to continue to improve on this because in the last minute in Newcastle and again today in the last 20 minutes, we conceded two goals.
“Our challenge is to be competitive for 90 minutes of each match and this is one thing to improve.”
While Vorskla’s goals were annoying, the boss made clear that overall he was pleased his side started their European campaign with a win. It’s also now four victories on the trot since we went down 3-2 at Stamford Bridge
“We are happy because the first match here with our supporters is first important to win,” he said.
“At the beginning of this competition, it’s important to take confidence and take the first victory.
“I think the first 60 minutes were good with imposing our ideas against them and also, little by little in the match, winning battles on the pitch to be near to scoring.
“With the four goals, I think we are in a good moment. But we want to be competitive for 90 minutes and I think the last 20 minutes, we conceded chances and we need to improve.
“Our disappointment today is that there were two goals conceded. But I am going to think that the first 60 minutes were very good and that we are going to continue impressing with those ideas.”
Not been this happy and optimistic for a long time
Looked like a good win from reading report and seeing the highlights… just a shame they were Sharpar in the dying minutes!
I appreciate that he’s acknowledging that we need to be better defensively and I feel that will lead to more defensive accountability. Happy we are scoring but if we’re going to seriously compete later in the Europa league rounds and for the top 4, we do need to be better switched on and more solid.
Agreed, although I think we will. Papa and holding was nice, would like to see holding in for Everton game. He is such a beast and will improve beyond mustafi. Papa has lost a bit of weight and looks much lighter on his feet, had a good game. Although it’s hard to judge the level of the opposition. Don’t like to blame ozil haha, but he could have prevented the last goal, he clearly felt with 10 seconds left he didn’t have to try anymore.
We’re at the first stage of a long journey back to where we want to be but we’re making incremental improvements game by game, which is all we can really ask for. It’s going to take some time and there will be disappointments along the way but it looks like we’re heading in the right direction after many years of deterioration.
Damn you Blogs. That came off his Shaba Ranks haircut. If it had been his shoulder, Sol Campbell’s massive arse or Gallas’ Penis, you’d have been quick to point it out.
“I prefer to win 5-4 than win 1-0.” – Emery
The guys just misunderstood the new boss. 😀
I’ll get my coat…
You brought your coat? It’s summer mate
Yeah no it’s not summer, it’s late September
Got to not post so early in the morning
Where’s my jacket…?
Impose our ideas, how disappointment today, our challenge is to be competitive,….
Beginning to come to terms with Unai’s Emerisms!
That last ten minutes felt like a throwback to the last few seasons. Some real things to be optimistic about before that though. I don’t really understand anyone who can’t see a difference in the way we’re playing even if it’s not as dramatic as we’d hope, largely because the same is pretty much the same.