HUDDERSFIELD 1 SMOKING GUNS
ARSENAL 2 Emery has United in sights: We can crash top-four party
AT THE ground where Arsene Wenger said his farewells, his successor Unai Emery effectively waved goodbye to Huddersfield’s chances of another season in the big time.
There was no sentiment, no misty-eyed condolences – this was a clinical demolition of any lingering ambitions the Terriers held in avoiding the dreaded drop into the Championship.
“We’re going down” sang the home fans in the knowledge that their great adventure is coming to an end.
For Emery the Arsenal journey is only beginning.
The Spaniard, a former boss of Paris Saint-Germain, could have been preparing for a Champions League clash with Manchester United this week.
Instead it was off to the John Smith’s Stadium in an attempt to place the Gunners’ season back on track after falling behind in their pursuit of a Champions League place.
While Huddersfield, under new boss Jan Siewert provided the entertainment, with intricate passing and plenty of goalmouth action which belied their lowly status, the Gunners supplied the firepower.
The Yorkshire spirit which rescued them so dramatically last season was again in evidence – so is the incriminating statistic surrounding their lack of goals.
With a goal in added-on time which gave the scoreline a more realistic look, it’s now just 14 so far.
It’s becoming so grim that they are thinking in these parts of introducing a month of the goal competition.
At times as Huddersfield pressed the accelerator, with the speedy Adama Diakhaby a constant source of danger, Arsenal lived dangerously.
They looked like a nervy side who had arrived on the back of four defeats on their last five away days.
Their fall from grace from the days of winning domestic titles is neatly illustrated by their travel plans for Thursday – a trip to Bate Borisov in the Europa League.
It’s why despite his side looking disjointed and lacking real quality Emery’s mission is to somehow chisel out a top-four finish.
“Our target is to get in to the top four,” he stressed. “This win can give us confidence.
“There is a point difference between Manchester United and us. If we ask is it easy or difficult, then of course it’s difficult.
“But we can achieve what we want. After game 26 we are on our way. Our motivation is great. We need to be consistent over the remaining games.”
The Gunners took a 15thminute lead – the goal owing to a touch of fortune off Huddersfield defender Terence Kongolo’s foot.
Sead Kolasinac advanced down the left flank and his deep cross was met on the volley by Alex Iwobi, the ball catching Kongolo’s heel and curling past Ben Hamer.
Huddersfield had strong claims for a penalty through a vicious drive from Jason Puncheon which struck Laurent Koscielny’s hand although the Frenchman will claim with a certain justification that he was protecting his crown jewels.
Huddersfield never lost heart, with Siewert claiming: “I will fight to the end with my lads to stay in the Premier League. They made me so proud.
“We gave everything for our fans, for everyone at the club. I tell the players the fight comes first then the luck comes back.”
Arsenal increased their lead just before the break when Alexandre Lacazette tapped in from Iwobi who had broken clear after an intelligent pass from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, back from injury.
Huddersfield carved out chance after chance, with Diakhaby twice being denied by Bernd Leno, and new boy Karlan Grant had an effort cleared off the line.
They finally broke through in added-time, Diakhaby flicking a through ball over Leno, only for Kolasinac to slice his attempted clearance into his own net.
Too little, too late – Arsenal had already delivered a harsh lesson in the value of sharp shooting.