GUNNERS STILL UP FOUR IT
Emery playing catch-up
UNAI EMERY admits Arsenal are now the outsiders to finish in the top four.
Terrible away form has seen them slip down to sixth behind Chelsea and Manchester United in the chase for the final Champions League place.
And after a January window where the Gunners only brought in midfielder Denis Suarez on loan, the Basque boss is starting to get fans used to the idea of a third campaign without it next season.
“There are teams now better than us,” said Emery.
“They have an advantage to us. Are we the outsiders now? Yes, we are sixth.
“We need to continue thinking in our capacity to be in the top four, but knowing it’s difficult.
“We need to be calm and also very demanding of ourselves. Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, there is a big difference between us but Chelsea and Manchester United, they are closer to us.
“The possibility is there because we are only three points behind Chelsea and one point behind United.”
Recent figures showed missing out on the Champions League cost Arsenal
£30m last season.
And after picking up only two points in their last six games on the road, Emery insists his side must win at rock-bottom Huddersfield today.
He also called on his squad to rediscover their pre-Christmas confidence and passion.
“Saturday is a big opportunity – like we were doing before when we played Tottenham at home and Chelsea at home. They were very important moments and now there is another important moment coming.
“It’s not to think we’re playing under pressure, it’s to be demanding and also with ambition to be in the top four.”
Emery believes Matteo Guendouzi’s summer decision to put his new club before France has helped him quickly establish himself as an Arsenal favourite.
The midfielder, 19, turned down a return to Paris St-Germain to join in a £7m deal from Lorient last July and missed the UEFA
Under-19 Championships in Sweden to go on Arsenal’s pre-season tour to Singapore.
Emery said: “It was a very big decision not to play with the national team because he wanted to stay with us to show his capacity in pre-season.
“He earned the possibility to take minutes in the first XI.
“His adaptation was very quick. Now his progress is very good.”