Arsenal are now fifth in the Premier League after Man United won yesterday and nothing less than a win over Newcastle United tomorrow night will do but it will not be easy as Unai Emery has acknowledged.
Emery has been discussing the battle for a top-four spot, no point not doing so now, it is the prize where the league is concerned and the Spaniard has made it clear what we need to do as each game approaches.
He said: “Each day, each match, for us and them, is very important. Thirty-eight matches give us [a chance] to be competitive, to play consistently.
“Now we are taking as a big performance as Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham. Now it’s very important and I trust in us.”
Whatever we may think of our competitors we have to accept they are top teams, there is an argument we have the easiest run in but Emery is not having any of that, he openly admits that we have a lot to do to finish top four.
“I know we need to do a lot to be in the top four,” he admitted. “I know Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham are going to win a lot of points between this match and the last.”
Emery is not taking anything for granted with regards to the Newcastle match and for one very good reason, their manager Rafa Benitez, a man he clearly has a lot of respect for.
He said: “It’s not my thought now, because I know Monday’s match is going to be very difficult. Newcastle are in a good moment.
“They have a lot good players and good organisation. The coach has a lot of experience and he is very competitive and I know that.”
Basically, all standard stuff from Emery, no complacency, respect for the opposition and so on and I cannot fault a single word of what he said.
Emery accepts and so do I that United, Chelsea and Spurs will pick up points as regularly as us, they may drop points, especially Tottenham considering who they are playing in their run in but as this season has already proven, there are no easy games and any of the four of us are susceptible to dropping points against the most unlikeliest of opponents.
One last thing I will say on the Emery comments, I have to say he does come across as a very sensible speaker, he says nothing to antagonise the opponents, he shows them respect and there is nothing they can take from the words of Emery as motivation.