Unai Emery says Arsenal ‘need more’ to finish in top four despite 22-game unbeaten run
Arsenal are becoming a real force again this season and the Spaniard will not let his troops rest on their laurels ahead of Sunday's trip to Southampton
UNAI EMERY is demanding more form his Arsenal side if they want to finish in the top four.
The Gunners are defending a brilliant unbeaten 22-game run going into Sunday’s clash against strugglers Southampton at St Mary’s.
Emery has not seen his side lose since back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea in their opening games of the season.
Despite their run, the Gunners are still outside the Champions League places behind Maurizio Sarri’s side on goal difference.
The Spanish coach is keen for his players to continue working towards his philosophy and take the North London side back to Europe’s top table.
Emery said: “I think we need more.
“I think our beginning is good, but at the moment in the table we are fifth and our mind is focused on being in the first four positions.
“I think we are doing our way and in one process improving, but the reality is that we need more.
“Our ideas and work with the players is to learn together. All of us can give everybody new ideas.
“I think the players are open to listening to us about our new tactical work with our analysis in videos. We need to do this work quickly, but we also need patience.
“We are improving step by step – and I think the players are also showing very, very good commitment and behaviour every day.”
Bernd Leno, Hector Bellerin, Lucas Torreira and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all likely to return after Emery made nine changes for the 1-0 Europa League win over Qarabag on Thursday night.
Emery’s main selection dilemma comes in defence as he heads to the south coast without four centre-backs.
Rob Holding and Konstantinos Mavropanos are injured while Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi are suspended.
Laurent Koscielny is the only recognised central defender available, but the 33-year-old only made his comeback against Qarabag after a seven-month lay-off with an Achilles injury.
Emery continued: “It’s very important for us to have Laurent Koscielny back because he’s our captain, he has experience.
“He’s, for us, one important player in the group.
“Him coming back is very important for us because he’s been training with us for the past month.
“But we also need to start with him helping us on the pitch in the games, and it’s very important for us that he can play with us.”