Loss to Liverpool showed Arsenal’s defensive issues — Emery

By Daily Sports on December 30, 2018

Arsenal coach Unai Emery admitted his team still has a lot of work to do defensively, but insisted the difference between the Gunners and Liverpool isn’t as big as Saturday’s 5-1 scoreline would suggest.

Liverpool tore Arsenal apart in the first half at Arsenal to take a 4-1 lead at the break despite going down to an early goal, with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah taking turns slicing through the Gunners’ back line. It was a humbling defeat for Emery’s side, who held Liverpool to a 1-1 home draw at the Emirates during a 22-game unbeaten run but were handed a harsh reality check at Anfield.

“We have a lot of work to do, defensively also, we know we need to get better,” Emery said. “We spoke in the dressing room – it’s another experience for us. A bad experience but an experience to learn from. In the second half we needed to stand up, to keep our position individually and collectively on the game. ... We only can think now of the match on Tuesday [against Fulham] and know that the difference between Liverpool and us was not like today’s result. Maybe we can do one balance, one mix between [the previous] draw and this result today.”

The loss – the heaviest defeat under Emery this season – could see Arsenal fall five points outside the top four if Chelsea win on Sunday. “The two last goals, two penalties, I think it's a lot for us. I think VAR is important – it’s coming next year, because I think it’s going to help the referees to take better decisions,” Emery said. “The result is clear. It’s not for the referee. There were some positives on the pitch – for example Ainsley [Maitland-Niles] played as right winger and scored, working well. Also [Alex] Iwobi, after some matches not playing very well, today he played 90 minutes with a good performance. But defensively we need to be stronger, to work. Our defensive moments in our box, it’s my responsibility and then we need the balance.”

Emery also confirmed that Mesut Ozil was left at home because of a knee problem, but said he didn’t know if it was a serious injury.

“I don’t know if it’s big or not big, but it’s his knee,” he said. (ESPN)

 •Photo shows Arsenal coach, Unai Emery

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 30, 2018


 

You may also like...
Real Madrid Put Modric Contract Talks On-Hold

Mourinho: Coaching Brazil would be exciting

No regrets with Sunshine Stars’ exit –Ogbeide

How Super Eagles Shot Down Tunisia to Clinch...

India a ‘passionate giant’ of football – Infantino...

Paris 2024: Men’s Olympics football fixtures

 

Latest News CAF awards: Ajibade, Nnadozie, Edo Queens bag nominations Lagos SWAN, PAACC Hold SWAN Day At Golfview Hotels, Ikeja Crisis looms as Eagles’ form raises AFCON, W’Cup concerns Ex-Nigerian Super Falcons player handcuffed, children assaulted as police storm Anambra Football Academy Sports NFF, teammates console Nwabali on father’s death Abia Govt hails Nigeria Olympic Committee over staging an admin course in Umuahia Libya deliver Eagles 2025 AFCON ticket Eagles battle Cheetahs for 2025 AFCON ticket Yellow Greens gear up for T20 W’Cup qualifiers Tyson tips Fury to beat Joshua Sadiq absent as 22 Eagles train in Abidjan Eagles’ striking trio hot for Cheetahs, Amavubi clashes

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,164 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,307 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,370 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,015 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,948 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,904 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,742 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,311 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,366 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,054 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,507 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,931 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media