Emery: We must rise to challenge of rejoining elite

ARSENAL manager Unai Emery has called on his team to embrace the pressure of regaining their Champions League status. The Gunners face Napoli, led by former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, in the Europa League quarter-final first leg at the Emirates tonight. Winning the competition will gain Arsenal entry into next season’s Champions League after two years out of Europe’s elite. The manager’s remit this season is to secure Arsenal’s return to European football’s top club competition and he urged his stars to finish the job. ‘We are always demanding of ourselves, for me playing under pressure is normal,’ said Emery. ‘This match is the level we want to play. We want to play the best teams and Napoli now is one of the best teams, with the best players and also a very experienced coach.’ Emery also hinted Mesut Ozil could miss out on the starting XI following his petulance at Goodison Park on Sunday. After being substituted, the German threw his coat in the direction of Emery and Everton manager Marco Silva as the two coaches clashed. Emery said: ‘This is happening all season (being asked about Ozil). When I decided he’s going to play, some journalists asked me: “Why?” and when I decide he’s not playing they ask me: “Why is he not playing?”’