Emery deflects talk of huge derby
When reporters tried to tempt Arsenal manager Unai Emery into early speculation about the North London derby with oldest rivals Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday, he was keen to offer a reminder that it is not the club’s next game.
On Thursday his team face a long trip to Ukraine to play Vorskla Poltava in the Europa League, needing a victory to consolidate first place in the group.
Only after returning early on Friday will they turn thoughts to the league game little more than 48 hours later against opponents still three points above them.
The main consolation for Emery is that the old enemy face a more important European game themselves, with Spurs knowing they must beat Inter Milan tomorrow to have any chance of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stage.
Spurs lie third in a tough group, three points behind Inter and six behind leaders Barcelona.
Although Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be at home, as well as having an extra day to rest and prepare for Sunday, they will not be able to leave out as many firstchoice players as Arsenal, who have a three-point cushion in their Europa League group.
“For us, the Europa League is very important,” Emery said after Sunday’s 2-1 victory away to Bournemouth put them fifth in the Premier League on 27 points.
“We want to finish first in the (Europa League) group. It’s a long travel and suddenly after we will play Tottenham, but I want to give the team rest for the competition.”
Leaving out midfielder Mesut Ozil and striker Alexandre Lacazette, who was not fully fit, from the Bournemouth game, offered the opportunity for rotation in a busy period.
So did switching to a threeman defence for the first time in a Premier League game this season as Arsenal just managed to hold out in a close contest.
Spurs had a more comfortable weekend game on Saturday, inflicting a first defeat of the season on Chelsea (3-1).
“We need to realise that with the right attitude we are a team that can compete at this level,” Pochettino said.
Regarded by many as a potential target for Real Madrid – or even Manchester United – next summer, Pochettino will be more aware than most of how important the next week is to Spurs’ ambitions and his own. –