ZCZC
BSP-06
FBL-ENG-PR-CRYSTALPALACE-ARSENAL
Emery demands urgency as Arsenal chase 12th successive win
LONDON, Oct 27, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Unai Emery has implored his Arsenal stars
to begin matches with more urgency as they head to Crystal Palace biding for
a remarkable 12th successive victory on Sunday.
Emery’s side notched their 11th win in a row on Thursday as Danny
Welbeck’s late strike sealed a 1-0 success at Sporting Lisbon in the Europa
League.
Arsenal’s blistering streak is their best run for 11 years as they chase
the club record of 14 consecutive wins in all competitions.
But to equal that landmark tally, set by George Graham’s team in 1987, the
Gunners need to start games with a little more tempo and desire according to
Emery.
Several times this season, Arsenal have laboured in the first half before
turning in dominant displays after the interval.
“Each match is a very big opportunity to improve things and one thing is
this,” Emery said when asked about starting matches too slowly.
“We spoke in the dressing room before the start of the match today about
our objectives. And one objective is this.
“But the most important thing is that when we were in the dressing room at
half-time, we spoke.
“We need to continue finding the solution for us to be better in the first
halves.” Arsenal’s current impressive sequence speaks volumes for the quiet
revolution Emery has overseen at the Emirates Stadium following the end of
Arsene Wenger’s 22-year reign.
The former Paris Saint Germain manager’s attention to detail and his
refusal to bow to the whims of star players like Mesut Ozil has won over a
squad that went stale in the depressing final years of the Wenger era.
While it is too early to label Arsenal as title contenders, they already
sit in fourth in the Premier League– just two points behind leaders
Manchester City — and at least look capable of bagging a top four finish.
– Revitalised –
Qualifying for the Champions League would be a successful first season for
Emery, and making a little history along the way would add lustre to his
debut campaign.
For Arsenal to set a new club record for successive victories, they must
beat Palace, then defeat Blackpool in the League Cup, Liverpool in the
Premier League and Sporting in their European rematch.
Arsenal, who have lost only one of their last 17 meetings with Palace,
have been revitalised since opening the season with a two-game losing run
against Manchester City and Chelsea.
And Palace manager Roy Hodgson says Emery deserves praise for lifting
Arsenal out of their rut so quickly.
“Emery has brought back that energy and quality of play that Arsene also
had for many years. Certainly when he took the league by storm playing that
type of football,” said Hodgson, whose side have lost their last three
matches.
“He has started extremely well. I know a lot about him and his career,
because I’ve followed his work, in particular at Sevilla and Paris Saint
Germain, and I know what a good coach he is, and he’s proving that.
“Eleven straight wins is an incredible record; we’ve got to try and do our
level best that they don’t make it 12, because we need the points.”
BSS/AFP/SSS/1037 hrs