Harry Diamond
Arsenal manager Unai Emery admits his side’s trip to Leicester this weekend is a ‘must-win’ game, whilst admitting the club feel ‘really strong’ at home despite recent dropped points against Crystal Palace and Wolves.
The North London outfit head to the King Power Stadium this weekend to face high-flying Leicester, the in-form Foxes currently sitting in third-place and boasting a six-point advantage over Emery’s side in the race to secure Champions League qualification.
Arsenal will be looking to bounce back after a run of three league games without a win, with the club having squandered leads to drop points at home in the past two weeks and fall adrift of the Premier League‘s top four.
Despite the abundance of points that the Gunners have already squandered, they are still unbeaten at the Emirates this season, and Emery insists his side feel ‘really strong’ at home.
• 2-2 vs. Watford
• 2-2 vs. Crystal Palace
• 5-5 vs. Liverpool
• 1-1 vs. Wolves
• 1-1 vs. VitóriaArsenal have lost the lead in five games across all competitions this season, dropping a total of 8 points in the Premier League and Europa League.
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 6, 2019
“We haven’t lost at home, we have dropped points but did not lose,” Emery said at his pre-match press conference.
“We can feel really strong at home with good performances and results and we are going to extend that to away.”
Draws against Crystal Palace and Wolves have seen the Gunners fall six-points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and this weekend’s opponents in third, and Emery was asked if the encounter was ‘a must-win’ game.
“Yes. We need to win,” admitted the Spaniard.
Leicester have lost just twice in their opening 11 fixtures and will be looking for a fourth consecutive league win, Brendan Rodgers’ side having impressed in pushing themselves into top four contention.
Emery admits he has been unsurprised by Rodgers impact and Leicester’s form, praising the Foxes as a ‘very good team’.
“This year is not been a surprise for me, he is a very good coach and they are a very good team.”
Read – Rodgers explains why Vardy snubbed 2016 move to Arsenal
See also – The Bookies five favourites to replace Emery as Arsenal manager