Emery tells fans to lay off Mustafi
UNAI EMERY has warned Arsenal fans they risk crushing his players’ confidence with criticism after seeing the abuse aimed at Shkodran Mustafi following Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Crystal Palace. The top-four chasers face Wolves in the Premier League tonight but the Spaniard feels his job is made harder when his stars are targeted after bad results. Emery said: ‘We need our supporters to help us. I know we are the actors, and the actor need to be strong. ‘When we win, they’re telling us we’re the best, we have a possibility to be third in the table. ‘That is good, but when we aren’t putting in good performances, it’s the moment to have balance. ‘Mustafi is a very good centre back. He has the habit — doing a tackle and going to ground. ‘He can win one, two, three, four, but if he loses one he is the picture and if he concedes a goal he is the big picture. ‘I have spoken to him, “You can improve and you need to work hard, you have a big quality for a centre back”. ‘I protect him because I believe in him. He needs to improve tactically, decisionmaking, but he has good quality and needs confidence. ‘So I say to our supporters: “Help our players”. I know we need to be strong as players, as a coach, as a team, as a club. ‘Personal insults I don’t agree with. Insults I don’t want.’ Emery strangely refused to reveal team news for Arsenal’s trip to Molineux tonight. ‘I’m not telling you what our idea is with the players, the system, the injured players,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to be clear on how the players are. I prefer it. ‘It’s not you, it’s for our opposition.’
WOLVES v ARSENAL
Kick-off: 7.45pm Molineux. Referee: Stuart Attwell.