HIGH FIVE FOR UNAI!

Arsenal ............ 5 PSG ........... 1 But Emery warns there is still work to be done

UNAI EMERY warned Mesut Ozil and his fellow Arsenal stars they must work harder to win the ball back – despite thrashing Paris Saint-Germain.

The Gunners ran out comfortable winners against an under-strength PSG side in Singapore’s National Stadium.

And Ozil, who captained the Premier League outfit to end a difficult week on a positive note, scored the first goal.

He found himself at the centre of a race row after Germany’s early exit from the World Cup and has vowed not to play for them again under the present regime.

Alexandre Lacazette grabbed two and fellow subs Rob Holding and Eddie Nketiah were also on the scoresheet after Christopher Nkunku’s penalty had levelled the scores. But even though this was a confidence-boosting victory and another important tune-up for when the real battles begin, Emery knows there is still plenty of work to be done.

Not least in his side’s efforts to close down their opponents, something which last night did not impress him until he threw on his younger players midway in the second half.

He said: “In the first half, we played good football with quality players but I wanted us to press better.

“We managed to do this later when the young players came on. The idea is that we are working without on the pressing.

“It was only the first match for Mesut, Mo Elneny and Alex Iwobi. We only did a one-day tactical session this week. We looked at videos for movement and positioning.” Overall, though, Emery has been pleased with what he has seen in south-east Asia and he is getting closer to naming his five captains.

It is something which is quite common in his native Spain and he wants to introduce it to north London with Ozil, Petr Cech, Aaron Ramsey, Laurent Koscielny and two others under consideration.

Emery added: “We are working together and giving responsibility to players. “Mesut can take responsibility as captain but also don’t forget Koscielny as he continues with us behind the scenes like a captain. “Then Petr Cech and Aaron the ball and Ramsey have also been captains in the friendly games.

“I am thinking about another one or two to take this responsibility as well.”

Emery was particularly pleased with the displays of the younger members of his squad.

Not least Emile Smith

Rowe, who scored a wonder goal in his first game of his first pre-season tour with the senior squad on Thursday and followed up with an assist for Lacazette on what was his 18th birthday.

PSG boss Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile, reckons the fact Arsenal’s big players did not go to the World Cup – or returned early – gives them an edge over their rivals in the Premier League.

He said: “It could give Arsenal a big advantage.

“When I managed Mainz in Germany, I always wanted to play the big teams early on after the European Championships or the

World Cup.

“We would have had six weeks pre-season and be raring to go.”