EMERY: I AM IN CHARGE (NOT JOSE!)
Jose link and slack Gunners pile pressure on under-fire boss
Europa League, Group F, Guimaraes
UNAI EMERY saw his struggling side throw away another lead – and then had to defend his own record with Jose Mourinho linked with his job.
Shkodran Mustafi’s goal, an 80th-minute header, was Arsenal’s only effort on target in the pouring rain.
But last year’s Europa League finalists still nearly lost this tie during a late flurry of action in a dreadful damp squib of a game. Arsenal remain unbeaten in Group F and will be through to the knockout stages if Eintracht Frankfurt beat Standard Liege tonight. But they have now taken the lead and then drawn in their last four games, including the Carabao Cup penalties defeat to Liverpool. With
Granit Xhaka stripped of the captaincy and only one win in six, the Gunners travel to Leicester on Saturday with no momentum and in danger of falling nine points off the Champions League places.
The Europa League – a competition Emery won three times in a row with Sevilla – could again be a lifeline this season.
But asked about fan discontent and Mourinho’s availability to return to the Premier League by the Portuguese media, the Spaniard used his own language to state brusquely: “I am the coach.” It was a postmatch display as inspiring as his team during the preceding 90 minutes.
And Emery, who made Rob Holding his latest captain and made eight changes, could not explain failing to hold on to another lead despite switching back to the wing-back system for the first time this season.
The Vitoria goal summed up their recent form. Former Tottenham starlet Marcus Edwards reached the byline in the first minute of injury time and keeper Emiliano Martinez could only push his cross into the air.
The ball was headed back into the six-yard box by sub Rochinha for Bruno Duarte to acrobatically hook it into the turf and over a posse of Arsenal defenders on the line. Then Mustafi nearly deflected another shot into his own goal and Rochinha volleyed just wide.
“The players tried and we were close to winning but in the last minute, they pushed a lot and scored,” said Emery. “In the Europa League it’s about being first in the group and we are. Now we prepare for Leicester.” Emery, who appointed five captains in September, showed his prickly mood even before kick-off when asked on television about his decision to make Holding skipper. “Today it is Rob Holding and he is perfect,” he said. When asked why, he replied: “Because he is.” Arsenal’s goal came from a Nicolas Pepe free-kick which found the unmarked Mustafi at the far post.