Emery determined to halt big-six hoodoo
UNAI EMERY has called on his Arsenal players to end their terrible record against the Premier League’s other big six sides at the Emirates tonight. Since the 2015-16 season, Arsenal have played 32 games against their big six rivals with five wins, 11 draws and 16 losses. They have already lost to Manchester City and Chelsea this season and a loss against Liverpool would end a 13-game unbeaten run. A win, however, could move Arsenal up to third in the table, and would give credibility to talk of a title challenge. ‘We want to write a new history,’ said the Arsenal manager. ‘We are starting this project in a very positive way. I trust in my players.’ Emery is wary of a Liverpool attack that has scored freely against Arsenal in recent meetings, but is confident that his defence, boosted by Hector Bellerin’s return from injury, will shackle Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. He added: ‘We need to be together and impose our style on them.’