EUROPA LEAGUE ROUND OF 32
A BARKLEY STUNNER AS BLUES LIFT THE GLOOM FOR SARRI AT LAST GUNNERS HIT BACK BUT BOSS WON’T GET CARRIED AWAY
UNAI EMERY has admitted it will be “very difficult” for Arsenal to win the Europa League.
Emery had the magic touch in the competition when he was at Sevilla, winning the trophy three years running.
That was probably why Arsenal brought him in last summer, as it could be their best chance of getting back into the Champions League.
But after overwhelming BATE Borisov, Emery (right) played down their chances.
The Gunners boss, whose side are now into today’s draw for the last 16, said: “If we can say six teams can win it, one is Arsenal – but it is very difficult.
“We need to create a big atmosphere with our supporters, and this feeling can give us a better chance.
“I have won this competition a lot of times and the last three winners were Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla. There are a lot of teams who can’t play Champions League like us and have this competition as a way of getting there.
“For us it is a good test and a good challenge to find our way. It’s very important for us and it was good for us to come back and get a result here.”
It is easy to see why Emery is not very optimistic as the likes of Valencia, Napoli and Villarreal are already through, while Arsenal are a long way from being the finished article.
Even nine months after being appointed, Emery has still to impose an identity on this team as you still do not know quite how they are supposed to play. Also BATE Borisov on a Thursday night seems a long way from big Champions League nights under Arsene Wenger.
Thirteen years ago, Arsenal were winning at Real Madrid on the way to reaching the final. Last night they were trying to overturn a first-leg 1-0 defeat against a team in a mid-season break, who flew to England having been pictured eating in Burger King at the airport. It was easy enough as Zakhar Volkov put through his own net after just four minutes and then Shkodran Mustafi and fit-again Greek defender Sokratis – on for Laurent Koscielny who went off with a slight calf injury – headed home from Granit Xhaka corners in either half.
But the game was low key as it kicked off at 5.55pm and the surprise was that as many as 58,812 turned up, although the official attendance includes seasonticket holders, some of whom clearly stayed at home.
There was a return for Mesut Ozil, given a reprieve after being left out in the cold.
Emery praised his performance, despite the £350,000-a-week star struggling to really make his mark. Emery generously said: “He wants it, and today he showed us he wants it.
“His spirit today was good, and his quality and his capacity and his skills.
“We need every player and today the way Mesut played is important and positive for us.”