Emery already knows implications of Arsenal defeat to Chelsea

DUBLIN, IRELAND - AUGUST 01: Arsenal manager Unai Emery greets Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri during the Pre-season friendly International Champions Cup game between Arsenal and Chelsea at Aviva stadium on August 1, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Unai Emery has stated that an Arsenal defeat to Chelsea on Saturday would end the Gunners’ hopes of a return to the Champions League next season.

Arsenal welcome their London rivals to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening knowing a loss to Maurizio Sarri’s Blues would leave them nine points adrift of the top-four places.

After enjoying a 22-game unbeaten run towards the back end of 2018, Arsenal struggled over the festive period and lost at West Ham last weekend.

Emery’s side could kick off in sixth place if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s resurgent Manchester United get a positive result against Brighton earlier in the day.

 

You can read Fleur East’s thoughts this weekend as the I’m A Celebrity star becomes the latest person to take our Predictions challenge.

 

The fact United were 12 points behind Arsenal when Jose Mourinho was sacked in mid-December shows how much the north Londoners’ form has slipped of late.

And Emery feels another defeat to Chelsea, following on from a 3-2 reverse at Stamford Bridge on the second weekend of the season, would spell the end of any hopes of a first top-four finish in three years.

Asked if a nine-point gap would be too big to overturn, the Arsenal head coach replied: “I think yes.

“We had a big challenge against West Ham. And the reason is because we spoke about playing under pressure, which we have to do if we are to be competitive, and take this opportunity. It is a big ambition of ours to do that.

during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on August 18, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

“After our loss to West Ham it is a big difference to be six points behind Chelsea instead of three points behind.

“But the next match is against Chelsea and the opportunity we have is not the same, but if we win we have the opportunity to be closer to them.

“And we can then continue our way in the 38 matches in the Premier League. Every player has this ambition. To play Saturday with all we can against them.”

 

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