Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Art De Roche

Every word Unai Emery just said on the threat of the sack, the empty stadium and Frankfurt loss

Unai how disappointing was that defeat?

"Good evening. Yes, I think we deserved more because we controlled the first half and scored the goal.

"In the first half we were happy with the performance as a team and individually. We started the second half the same but lost control of the game in 15 minutes and they scored twice.

"At the end we changed two players because of injuries and we couldn't make more offensive changes to bring on fresh players. We didn't take chances to draw or win the match."

How disappointing was the amount of fans that stayed away tonight and were the players struggling to be motivated?

"We need to win playing well to get confidence and we did that in the first half. In the dressing room we spoke about being consistent in the second half, pushing and think we did that in the first five or 10 minutes.

James Benge: It is becoming a matter of when, not if, Emery loses his job

"We lost control in that 15 minutes as they also pushed, scored twice and then we couldn't take chances to score or win.

"In the competition we are still first. We lost a good opportunity to finish clearly at the top of the group but we continue in that position and think for the next match against Standard Liege to achieve three points."

Are you confident you can turn this around?

"Now our moment is not good. We need to win, take confidence and I think we are better than we are showing. The players, the coaches and myself.

"Really, the response from the players in the first half was good and in the second half we started very well. The injuries to Shkodran Mustafi and David Luiz were very important because when you are losing you need some fresh players offensively to give the team more options and we couldn't do that."

Do you fear the worst now?

"I am thinking first to analyse that match and also the Europa League matches. Today we improved things but it wasn't enough."

Do you think you will remain in charge?

"I am thinking about the next match and how we can improve and achieve confidence with the players. They know we are a little down in our feelings but if we continue with our first half performance, that is the way."

Do you feel if you don't get a result on Sunday that your job could be on the line?

"My work and my job is firstly analysing that match, how we are in the Europa League, in our feelings and how we are going to play on Sunday."

Seven games without a win. Where is it going wrong?

"We needed to achieve confidence here (the Emirates) and play well and we improved. We improved some things to take three points but in 15 minutes we lost all the work of the first half.

"I spoke with the players to be consistent and be positive but really, we need to win.

"To recover confidence we need to win and feel better here with our supporters in the Emirates. It's the first match we lost at home but maybe we deserved more but it is the first match we lost here."

Granit Xhaka reacts during the Europa League match between Arsenal and Eintracht Frankfurt (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Is Granit Xhaka's issue now in the past?

"It's very good news with Granit. We played well and the supporters helped him and I think it's good news."

What happened with Mustafi and Luiz?

"I don't know exactly but they couldn't finish the match and will see how they are tomorrow for Sunday."

You are very self-critical, do you accept any mistakes you have made?

"I understand all the criticisms of the team and about me and also as a coach I have had that moment in my career."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.