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UNAI EMERY claims to have blanked the memory from his mind but the Arsenal boss has good reason to fear Huddersfield this afternoon.
This time last year his Paris St-Germain side’s 25-match unbeaten run was ended at French strugglers Strasbourg.
PSG went on to win the league while Strasbourg’s shock victory proved vital in saving them from relegation.
But with fewer margins for error in the Premier League – and Arsenal’s 20-match unbeaten run at stake – Emery is insistent that Huddersfield must not be taken for granted.
The Spaniard said: “I don’t remember [Strasbourg]. I said before, I only remember in football the present.
“For me, yesterday is a long time – Saturday is also long ago. “Football happens very quickly with positive things, negative things, but you need to learn.
“I’ve learnt in the Premier League that every team has good players, good organisation and good possibilities in the 90 minutes against every team,” he said.
Push
“On Saturday, the first thing is a very big respect, more than Manchester United, more than Tottenham, because we need a high level in our performance to win against them.
“They are going to push a lot and will want a surprise.”
Firm in the memory of Arsenal fans is that this is the kind of match in which they would drop vital points in the last days of former boss Arsenal Wenger.
Last season the Gunners were beaten at relegated Stoke, beaten at Watford, held at struggling Southampton, held at relegated West Brom, beaten at Bournemouth, beaten at relegated Swansea and seen off at Brighton.
At Huddersfield they actually managed a win thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Emery wants to ensure his side repeat the feat.
He is also determined to maintain the feelgood factor which has returned to the red half of north London.
“We work for that,” he added. “They (the fans) can be happy with us, can be proud with our work, with our victories, with our draws. Every day we need to create this spirit.”