LONDON • Unai Emery said he is not worried that Arsenal failed to keep a first away clean sheet of the season, as first-half goals from Alex Iwobi and Alexandre Lacazatte secured a 2-1 win at Premier League bottom side Huddersfield.
The result kept the Gunners in the thick of the chase for a top-four finish and Champions League football although questions remain about their defensive frailty.
Deep into injury time on Saturday, Adama Diakhaby broke clear on goal, lifted the ball over Bernd Leno and watched as Sead Kolasinac turned into his own goal via an unfortunate deflection.
Not that Emery was too concerned about that late blot on his team's performance.
"A clean sheet is important, but our main worry is to win," he said. "The main thing is to score one more goal than them and, after that, it is to keep a clean sheet.
"Every player worked very well and the last action, unfortunately for us they scored and also maybe they deserved it."
Arsenal have won the joint most points in the final 10 minutes of matches this season, but relying heavily on second-half turnarounds and late shows could only go on for so long.
At the heart of the problem is their defensive record - Arsenal remain the only Premier League team without an away clean sheet.
Emery had cut an increasingly animated and frustrated figure on the touchline as his team failed to kill off Huddersfield in the first period, even surviving a strong penalty appeal after Jason Puncheon's shot struck the arm of Laurent Koscielny after 25 minutes.
"That is me," he said, explaining his antics. "It is my personality. If I am here, it is because in my career I progressed like that. If for one moment I thought it's negative, then I wouldn't do it."
The win moved Arsenal to within one point of fourth-placed Manchester United (51 points), even though Chelsea could regain fourth spot with a draw or win over champions Manchester City in their late match yesterday.
Insisting that a top-four finish was a realistic target, the Spaniard said: "I think it's difficult, but we can (finish in the top four). After 26 games, we are on our way and our motivation is very great and we've brought our target closer."
REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Pep Guardiola challenges Manchester City to beat Liverpool to stay in Premier League title race Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says their next game against Liverpool will be like a final Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City must beat Liverpool on Thursday in order to maintain their Premier League title bid.
EPL: Guardiola reveals what Manchester City must do to beat
Apr 25, 2019 · Klopp: Whatever happens in title run-in, we'll have 'no regrets' "I'm calm, and I just want to think about the Colombia team and later we'll see." Colombia plays Peru in a
Jurgen Klopp remains calm despite Borussia Dortmund's poor
MANCHESTER, England (REUTERS) - Manchester City linchpin Bernardo Silva faces a late fitness test before Sunday's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, his manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday
Guardiola to make late decision on Silva for Palace trip
Serie A: Napoli draw puts Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus coronation on hold Description: Juventus now have a 20-point advantage on Napoli with seven games to play. A draw next week at lowly SPAL would be enough to win the title, still in record time with six games to spare.
Napoli draw puts Juventus coronation on hold - sports.yahoo.com
Ex-Dutch youth international Maguire seeks soaring start with
Griezmann on target again as Atletico edge closer to Barca Griezmann could have been playing for Barca had his decision been different last summer but instead he is fast-becoming the sharpest
Football: Griezmann on target again as Atletico edge closer
National Under-22 coach Fandi Ahmad yesterday named Vasileios Zikos Chua, 17, and three other youngsters who made their professional debuts in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) this year in his
30 Things To Know Before Living in Norway - Megan Starr
Makeshift Barca side beaten at Celta and lose Dembele to injury making 11 changes but forward Ousmane Dembele suffered an injury setback ahead of Tuesday's Champions League game at Liverpool
barcelona: Makeshift Barcelona side beaten at Celta Vigo
Now we know hat division we are in lets do the annual see who we would keep. A few assumptions. 1) AL has no significiant funds. 2) Loanees like Daniel Iversen we are unlikely to be able to afford, and probably wouldnt re-sign for us, but the sign or release is based on performance not likelihood
Keep up Synonyms, Keep up Antonyms | Thesaurus.com
Injured Suarez to miss China Cup for Uruguay Posted on March 18, 2019 by yasir kaneria in Football , Sports Suarez, 32, is expected to miss between 10 and 15 days after limping off late in Sunday's 4-1 win at Real Betis in La Liga.
Injured Suarez to miss China Cup for Uruguay - China.org.cn
Football: Bournemouth's Nathan Ake strikes late to sink nine-man Tottenham Bournemouth's Nathan Ake in action against Tottenham, on May 4, 2019. PHOTO: REUTERS/ACTION IMAGES
Nathan Ake Strikes Late To Sink Nine-Man Tottenham Hotspur
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen