Unai Emery says that while he’d like his team to keep a clean sheet against Standard Liege tomorrow night, he’s focused first on ensuring his team wins the game.
The Gunners take on the Belgians at the Emirates, having conceded in six of their nine games in all competitions this season.
A win over Eintracht Frankfurt got the group stages of the Europa League off to a good start, and the manager is keen for that to continue tomorrow.
Asked if he was specifically looking for his team to keep a clean sheet, he said, “For me, it’s to win. With a good performance, with good pieces, with also controlling the match and with good positioning on the pitch for good pressing against them. Tomorrow, we need that.
“Also, a clean sheet is important. Yes, it’s important. But I think it’s one process, to be strong, to be competitive defensively and offensively.
“I think we are getting better little by little, but each match is a big challenge for us to show how we are improving as a team. But above all is to win.
“After, if we can do a clean sheet, that is better.”
This will be the first meeting between the two sides since a Champions League tie in November 2009 when goals from Samir Nasri and Denilson gave Arsenal a 2-0 win.
I do get the slow improvement argument. But sometimes it feels like it’s his first season again. We talk as though the process needs time. But it has had time.
Most of the team were here last season and they don’t look any more clued up for his 16 month tenure than they were on the opening game of last season.
How many more things need to be ‘just right’ for things to click. Every manager has to deal with absentees and issues, yet if anything performances are getting worse. A slight defensive improvement against the most toothless utd side in 3 decades hasn’t convinced me we’re on an upward trajectory I’m afraid.
#EmeryOut
No wonder you are Bob’s Mexican Cousin
lol worst shots on goal record in history (kinda, sarc) and hes talking like its all coming together
I think it is. We didn’t have wingers last season, which forced Emery into playing wing backs for width, something he’s never done before. He now has Pepe + Saka, + Tierney + Bellerin coming back. Bellerin had 5 assists in 18 games last season, the season before he had 5 in 42, and he’s never got more than 5 before. Bellerin+ Tierney along with Pepe + Saka have the potential to make us a more dangerous team. Last season we had no player in wide positions who’s natural game was to have a pop at the full backs, Saka+… Read more »
keep dreaming
The problem isn’t Torreira’s new position as such, it’s what’s behind him that worries me.
A win and no injuries. If you can promise those you can do what you want.
The 7-2 last night gave plenty enough enjoyment.
Not when you think that Arsenal were unable to beat these Spurs at the Emirates.
Oh FFS, live a little and enjoy the schadenfreude. We’ve got the rest of our lives to complain, no harm in taking a break.
It’s just that there is a high correlation between clean sheets and winning…just saying…
Shocking that 2-1 would be a better result than 0-0. Or losing 2-7, to take a completely random example.
If we lost 2-7 I don’t think I could ever live it down
Gotta love it was at home in their brand new toilet bowl as well. With 50 screens flaunting the champions league logo all around. Just in case anyone forgot. How insecure can you be?? Haha enjoy it while it lasts nob heads!
Where were you 8 years ago?….
Thanks for reminding me
A completely random example ? nice one, JB
Thing is… There hasn’t been any… Let me repeat any gd performance this season. No control of the game whatsoever… We made Watford run at us with 30 shots and made the weakest united side look decent. We re alrd 6 wks into the new season, and im not convinced with unai team selection and game plan. Cant basically get auba to keep bailing us every damn time. This need to be sort out fast.
keep dreaming
Now now Dick..
Clean sheets turn score draws into wins..Watford Spurs Man Utd.. That is 6 points lost because of your fuckwit theorys
Haven’t had a nice clean sheet in ages
Stop w*nking in bed then…
My wife loves it when I wink
If the philosophy is to outscore the opponent, why field 3 DM?
Exactly!
Some kind of clever reverse psychology perhaps
It is because in the moment there is performance and you can see lot of commitment in training
Just sack him. Tired of this simpleton nonsense. #EmeryOut
As someone on the Twitter said the other day, “Bruce Rioja” that is all.
Come back Eddie McGoldrick
And a win is more important than a tie….
I wouldn’t mind such mentality if we were playing attractive football at the very least, but we’re quite bad both at defending and at creating/attacking. Hell, what made me enjoy those Wenger’s teams with Cesc, Diaby, Denilson, et al, was that, while we weren’t winning anything, at the very least it was a joy watching us play. From the late Arsene years and still now, we’re toothless in attack and awful in defense.
It’s like the Mourinho test of priorities except he won trophies while subjecting his fans and players to horrendous, negative football. We get all the boredom and none of the benefits…
From someone who could give impromptu lectures on music and art, to …..
A draw with Man Utd is like winning a trophy.
I get the feeling this guy only takes his job seriously when it’s Europa league games. Not surprising given it’s less competitive than the premier league, but still depressing.
“With a good performance, with good pieces”
He’s resorting to guns because his tactics don’t work? Christ.