Harry Diamond
Arsenal boss Unai Emery has discussed his tactical changes after seeing his side come from behind to beat rivals Tottenham 4-2 in Sunday’s North London derby.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s opener from the penalty spot was cancelled out by Eric Dier and a Harry Kane penalty for Tottenham before Aubameyang’s second, plus further strikes from Alexandre Lacazette and Lucas Torreira sealed a memorable derby win at The Emirates.
Emery was keen to discuss his changes, with half-time substitutes Lacazette and Aaron Ramsey proving highly influential in turning the game around.
“First, it was about being calm,” Emery told his post match press conference.
“We changed small details but what’s been most important for me at half-time is to be calm, to give them confidence, because maybe yesterday we were 1-0 up and then we finished the half 2-1 down. Give them confidence on the best moments in the first half, to repeat that in the second half.
“Change something special – I changed two players at half-time, but not because Iwobi and Mkhitaryan were doing badly, but because we needed to change and push with different players.
“I explained yesterday that Aaron has experience in derbies like yesterday, and the second was that I thought we could do better with players with the capacity to score against them.”