Every Arsenal fan would consider tomorrow’s game against Man United to be an absolutely crucial match in the race for the Top Four, but it would appear that Unai Emery is trying to play down the importance of the fixture. He obviously has in mind the defeat to United last time they visited the Emirates, in the FA Cup. The boss said: “There can be] similarities on Sunday because they have similar players, because they are in a good moment like they were then, but we played well, we created chances,”
“We played against a big team and at some moments showed we can fight and battle with them, but we lost and that is the reality. We need on Sunday to do some different tactical and individual work and after find better efficiency against them.
“We need fresh players, players with energy, we need quality, we need good combinations, and we need the players who start on the bench after they can help us on the pitch and deliver a big performance as well.”
But he refused to say that the result will decide the Final placings at the end of the season, although he admits that the points will be quit important! “It is not a definitive [match]. We are in a way of being consistent, we have 38 matches and Sunday is against Manchester United against a team who also battle for 38 matches and it is important to do it in this moment because this three points are for us or for them.
“I don’t think it is definitive, but we need to show and push on Sunday to take more possibility to finish in the top four.”
If anything, United are in even better form now than when they beat us in the Cup, but we will have to take heart that we have been awesome in our League games at the Emirates. We will have to be at our very best to stop Solksjaer’s steamroller effect to stop one of our biggest rivals pulling away from us. So is Emery right that this game is not “definitive”. I rather think it is, don’t you?
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