Emery on Arsenal defeat: We improved
Under-pressure head coach Unai Emery claimed Arsenal showed signs of improvement despite seeing his side lose 2-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League in front of what was a sparse Emirates Stadium crowd.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put the Gunners in front on the stroke of half-time but two goals in nine second-half minutes saw the Bundesliga side secure victory, and ramp up the pressure on Emery.
A chorus of boos greeted the final whistle as the Arsenal supporters, who also held up banners which read: “Emery Out. No tactics, no formation, nowhere to hide”, made their feelings known.
Defeat means Arsenal are now winless in their last seven games, with Emery seemingly clinging to his job as reports continue to link replacement candidates with the post.
Despite the mounting pressure on his position, Emery was keen to take the positives, saying: “I think we improved.
“In the first half we had control of the game and we were winning 1-0 but we created chances to score a second goal.
“The first five or 10 minutes or so of the second half was positive, how we were playing,” he added.
“We lost control in 15 minutes of the second half and they scored two goals and then we couldn’t change the result.
“The last 20 minutes we tried to come back but we didn’t create in that moment a big opportunity to score.”
‘Focus on Next Match’
Emery brushed over further questions about his future, saying his focus was on Arsenal’s next match at Norwich.
“I am being positive but above all realistic,” he added. “I am thinking about the next match and how we can improve.
“If we play like in the first half, that is the way.
“We are now well,” he added. “We lost but it was an opportunity tonight to win that match. We deserved it. We improved on the last match here, I think.
“We are top of the group and we lost a very good opportunity to achieve the next round tonight, but we are going to take another in Liege.”
Meanwhile, the return of Granit Xhaka proved the only positive on another difficult night for Emery and Arsenal.
The Swiss midfielder made his first appearance for the club since he was stripped of the captaincy for swearing at supporters in last month’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, and Emery was delighted with his performance and the response of the supporters.
“He really played well,” Emery said.
“It is very good news for Granit. He played well and the supporters helped him.”
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