Emery’s press to success
Arsenal boss Unai Emery watched his side stroll to a 5-1 win over Paris Saint- Germain – then warned them he won’t tolerate their lack of desire to get the ball back.
The Gunners signed off the Asian leg of their International Champions Cup campaign with victory over Emery’s old side in Singapore.
Skipper Mesut Ozil’s early goal and secondhalf strikes from Alex Lacazette put them in charge after Christopher Nkunku had levelled for PSG from the spot.
Gunners defender Rob Holding added No. 4 before Eddie Nketiah netted late on.
Even though this was a confidence-boosting victory and another important tune-up for when the real battles begin, Emery reckons there is still plenty of work to be done. Not least in his side’s efforts to close down opponents.
Emery said: “In the first half we played good football with quality players but I wanted to do the pressing better.
“We had to see this pressing with the young players later.
“The first idea is that the players are working without the ball and on closing down opponents.
“It was only the first match for Mesut, Mo Elneny and Alex Iwobi so it’s early days.
“We only did a one day tactical session this week. We looked at videos for movement and positioning.”
Overa l l , though, Emery has been pleased with what he has seen in South-east Asia and he is getting closer to naming his five captains.
Rotating the captaincy is fairly common in his native Spain and he wants to introduce it to north London.
Ozil, Petr Cech, Aaron Rams e y, La u r ent Koscielny and two other unnamed players are under consideration as team skippers.