LONDON • Unai Emery's first season in charge at Arsenal is in danger of imploding unless the Spaniard can again prove himself to be a Europa League specialist and cover up an alarming dip in the Gunners' Premier League form.
Arsenal have lost four of their past five league games to slip down to fifth, with their chances of a top-four finish depending on favours from Chelsea or Tottenham.
However, winning the Europa League would also offer a much-needed return to the Champions League next season after a two-year absence.
Emery is a specialist in Europe's second-tier club competition, winning it three consecutive times with Sevilla from 2014, and he is also well acquainted with today's semi-final opponents, Valencia, who he managed between 2008 and 2012.
He did a stellar job at the Mestalla, leading Valencia to three consecutive third-placed finishes behind the dominant Barcelona and Real Madrid sides.
"They are a very good team with good players. It will be a difficult match," Emery said of Valencia. "We will continue, we will not look at the (league) table, the Europa League is a big motivation for us."
However, doubts remain over his ability to lead the Gunners back to the heights attained by former boss Arsene Wenger in the earlier years of his management.
The same defensive issues appeared to have returned in recent weeks as Arsenal conceded three goals in three consecutive league defeats for the first time since 1967.
Emery has also yet to find the right balance with his two star forwards Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rarely playing together.
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri, meanwhile, has challenged his players to finish a turbulent season strongly when they travel to Eintracht Frankfurt in the other semi-final today.
"We are fighting for the top four and in the semi-finals of the Europa League. We have done a good season," the Italian insisted.
"Now we need to take two very important targets."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, DPA
ARSENAL V VALENCIA
Singtel TV Ch110 & StarHub Ch214, tomorrow, 2.55am
FRANKFURT V CHELSEA
Singtel TV Ch112 & StarHub Ch213, tomorrow, 2.55am
DUBLIN, June 10 (Reuters) - Ireland had an own goal by Joseph Chipolina and an injury-time header by substitute Robbie Brady to thank for a 2-0 win over Gibraltar in their Euro 2020 Group D
More than 750 million television viewers watched the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™, as the FIFA's flagship women's competition delivered all-time record viewing figures.
Women's World Cup 2019 set to break TV records as England's
London: Mauricio Pochettino says Harry Kane is making a "fantastic" recovery and could be back in action ahead of schedule following the ankle injury he suffered last month against Manchester United. Kane was initially ruled out until March, but Spurs boss Pochettino said the England captain could feature in his side's Premier League match at
Kane making 'fantastic' recovery, says Spurs boss Pochettino
It seems Salah's position is influencing his stats. Some of the differences in the numbers are logical. Salah dribbles more and makes defensive actions more frequently when he is on the right, rather than when he is the focal point of the team. He also has more touches in the penalty box when playing centrally too.
Salah: "I don't score for a few games & there are players on
No pats on backs for City after rout: Pep, Football News
Maurizio Sarri has challenged Gonzalo Higuain to hit the ground running if he wants to earn a permanent contract at Stamford Bridge. Higuain joined the Blues on Thursday night, completing a loan move until the end of the season. As part of the agreement with Juventus, Chelsea have the option to extend that loan deal by a further 12 months.
Olivier Giroud vs Gonzalo Higuain - Chelsea must start serial
Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling hit a hat-trick as England thrashed the Czech Republic 5-0 for their opening Euro 2020 qualifier. Manager Gareth Southgate gave Jadon Sancho his first
Raheem Sterling hits hat-trick as England thrash Czech
Hamilton foiled again in opener, Football News & Top Stories
New kids strike for Azzurri, Football News & Top Stories
Berlin, Feb 17 (AFP) Schalke 04 warmed-up for the Champions League visit of Manchester City with a goalless draw at home to fellow Bundesliga strugglers Freiburg on Saturday.
Ten-man Schalke draw blank ahead of Man City clash
France midfielder Paul Pogba believes England's Raheem Sterling is sometimes treated differently by the British media because he is black and does not get the recognition he deserves for his
Man City's Sterling treated differently by British media
Earlier, PSG condemned "Patrice Evra's homophobic insults aimed at us… on social media" after a bizarre spat in which Evra used the French word "pede", a derogatory term for homosexuals, to describe the Parisians. Nonetheless, the 37-year-old claimed his comments had been twisted by the French media.
Ex-United star denies homophobia after spat with PSG
Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro 2020 qualifying opener AFP March 21, 2019, 10:52 PM GMT Memphis Depay fired a brace and set up two more as the Netherlands hammered Belarus in their Group C
Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro 2020 qualifying opener
Read the latest Granada stories, Vincent Kompany to donate season of pay to homeless on ITV News, videos, stories and all the latest Granada news s Homelessness Fund, and donates 15% of his
Vincent Kompany Will be Raising Money for Manchester's
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen