Despite beating Leicester City 3-1, Unai Emery said that Arsenal players should have controlled the match better and need to improve in controlling matches. Arsenal came back from behind to register their 7th successive Premier League win and 10th successive win this season across all competitions.
An own goal from Hector Bellerin just after the half-hour mark gave Leicester the lead. Bellerin’s own goal was the first in the Premier League by an Arsenal since September 2016 when Petr Cech scored an own goal against Southampton.
However, Arsenal equalised at half-time thanks to Mesut Ozil before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came of the bench to score two goals in 3 minutes. The win took Arsenal to 4th place in the Premier League table. They are sandwiched between Chelsea and Tottenham with all three teams having 21 points.
Unai Emery said that he was happy with the team’s performance but has called for improvement in controlling matches. The Spaniard said, “Different halves, every match is difficult. First half we didn’t control the match with possession and positioning. We are happy because we are progressing. We need to play with organisation but also with heart and we are beginning to play with heart. When you continue to improve your demands are very high. We need to control the matches more than we are doing now.
First half we didn’t play well but then we played with quality and heart. This feeling together is very good. We need the number 10 position sometimes with Mesut Ozil and sometimes with Aaron Ramsey. We can’t play with both sometimes. Last match was away and we played it with two strikers. Today Mesut was very good but I believe in every player and different positions for the players.”
Arsenal’s next match is a Europa League fixture against Sporting CP on Thursday. Their next Premier League fixture is on Sunday against Crystal Palace who are currently on a 3-match losing streak.
