Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FLEXIBLE FRIEND
Mustafi: The boss tells us what he wants..but also gives us the freedom to choose how to carry it out
UNAI EMERY has given Arsenal the perfect blend of discipline and freedom, according to Shkodran Mustafi.
Emery’s Gunners revolution is well on track with his side currently on an impressive 14-game unbeaten run. And defender Mustafi praised the new manager for the qualities he has added to Arsenal’s make-up.
The German said: “The biggest thing he has brought is that he’s someone who really knows what he wants from each player.
“He tells you exactly what he wants you to do, but gives you freedom to expose your talent.
“When we don’t have the ball, he tells you where to stand and how to get it back. And when we have it, he gives you options you can use.
“You can decide which option you choose. For me, it’s a good mix between freedom and discipline, and having the same plan in the whole team.
“That’s what we saw against Liverpool last weekend. That was the first game where I felt like we came out from the first minute and were everywhere until the 90th minute. So I feel like there’s a good mix between discipline and freedom.”
As encouraging as that draw against Jurgen Klopp’s high-flying side was, Emery said ahead of tonight’s Europa League clash against Sporting Lisbon: “We played a good match against Liverpool, a team who, with Manchester City, are the best team in England.
“But it is not enough because we drew. We need more and must continue to improve to be close to those teams.”
The Gunners can clinch Group E top spot with two games to spare, if they beat their Portuguese visitors, who will be led by caretaker manager Tiago Fernandes following last week’s sacking of Jose Peseiro.
Emery added: “It is clear for us – if we win we are first in this group. That is the target for us.
“Sporting have changed coach and have two players – Bas Dost and Jeremy Mathieu – who didn’t play in the first game, so usually some things will change tactically.
“But the most important thing for us is our performances and preparations.” ARSENAL: Cech, Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Sokratis, Kolasinac, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Welbeck, Aubameyang SPORTING: Ribero, Lumor, Coates, Gaspar, Mathieu, Gudelj, Fernandes, Acuna, Nani, Dost, Diaby REFEREE: Gediminas Mazeika (Lithuania) Arsenal are unbeaten in their three meetings with Sporting Lisbon (W2 D1), not conceding a single goal in those games. Sporting have lost each of their last four meetings with English opposition since beating Manchester City at home in the Europa League last 16 in 2011-12. Arsenal have won each of their last three games in major European competition – they haven’t won four such games in a row since a run of six between March-november 2005. Sporting have managed just four wins from their last 27 away games in major European competition (D4 L19), though one of those wins was last time out against Vorskla Poltava. Danny Welbeck has scored more goals in the Europa League than any other Arsenal player since the start of last season (5).