Arsenal boss Unai Emery said that he is calm despite his team suffering a second consecutive Premier League defeat. The Gunners lost to Chelsea 3-2 courtesy of a late Marcos Alonso winner. This was the first time since 1992 that Arsenal lost their first two Premier League matches.
Emery said that he is calm but also insisted that his team should improve. The Spaniard said, “We need to improve, and to be competitive each match, and know, or learn in the match. We conceded more moments to Chelsea in the second half. Our process is continuing. [We want to] improve things, the balance in defensive and attacking moments, and with young players and passion. Today we finish the match with two midfielders, 22-year-old Lucas and 19-year-old Mateo.
Firstly, I am calm when I look at my team creating chances. But we need to continue working. I know that maybe you have one moment where [Chelsea] do not score the three chances. I am calm with that. I think we need to give them, the players, calm. And to continue working. I know we need to improve things, I know we need to push the players to work, but for me there are many positives from the first match against Man City.
I want to do the balance with the attacking and defensive moments, because I think we conceded a lot today to Chelsea, and I think also in the second half we needed to keep the control in the match, with the ball and the positioning.”
Unai Emery said that he was glad with the way Mesut Ozil is playing and training. The former German international had a rather subdued outing and was subbed off in the 68th minute. Emery said, “We need his help, with his quality, and also I want to push him to be competitive every match. Today I am happy with him, because he worked. I then decided to change because I think we needed in the middle some more push, to not let Chelsea progress easy with the ball, to not defend so deep.
But I am happy with Mesut, and we are going to do with him the same work, the same help, and demanding also for work every day. At the moment, what he is doing I am happy with. He is one player who I am sure will do a good season.”
Arsenal’s next Premire League fixture is against West Ham on Saturday.
