Emery staying grounded as Welbeck extends the Gunners’ winning streak

EUROPA LEAGUE UNAI Emery is not thinking about becoming an Arsenal record-breaker despite guiding the Gunners to an 11th consecutive win with a Europa League victory at Sporting Lisbon.

Danny Welbeck scored the only goal of a forgettable game in the 77th minute.

Since losing to Premier League champions Manchester City and London rivals Chelsea in his first two games in charge, Emery has tasted nothing but victory.

It is 31 years since Arsenal went on such a winning run, with the club’s all-time record streak standing at 14 matches.

Premier League victories over Crystal Palace and Liverpool, as well as Carabao Cup success against Blackpool in between, would see Emery’s team draw level with their counterparts from 1987, but the Spaniard is not looking too far ahead.

“Three matches, that is a lot,” he said. “We are only thinking of the next match against Crystal Palace. We are also enjoying each moment with our supporters.

“Today we were with them and they were with us, supporters who had come from London or from here. It’s very important that supporters are with us.

“I’m enjoying continuing the work, our process. They have a high demand for us because every match is not easy for us.

“Historically, this has been very difficult and I know this. We are thinking about three points at Palace but we know that it’s very difficult to win there.

“Continuing to win is what we want but we know it’s not easy.”

Despite the current run of form, one criticism of Arsenal has been their slow starts, which was evident again at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Emery concedes it needs addressing and that he has made his players aware of it.

“Each match is a very big opportunity to improve things and one thing is this,” he replied.

“We spoke before the start of the match about our objectives. But the most important thing is that when we were in the dressing room at half-time we spoke.

“But we need to find the solution to be better in first halves.”

Sporting boss Jose Peseiro spoke with pride at how his players prevented Arsenal playing the sort of free-flowing football that has been associated with them in recent weeks.

“Nobody has been able to do what we did in that first half against Arsenal,” he said. “We did well but did not take advantage of balls we gained close to their box, where we might have scored.” Decisive say: Danny Welbeck salutes his strike in Lisbon