UNAI EMERY ADMITTED Arsenal missed a big opportunity in their timid 1-0 loss to Everton but is adamant there will be more chances to cement a top-four spot.
Phil Jagielka’s 10th-minute goal at Goodison Park on Sunday condemned the Gunners to their first defeat in seven Premier League matches.
A point would have been enough to overtake Tottenham in third but the visitors failed to match Everton’s enthusiasm in an extension of their away woes that have produced just six points from the last 27 available on the road.
They will drop to fifth in table if London rivals Chelsea avoid defeat at home to West Ham on Monday, and Arsenal could come to rue their lacklustre effort on Merseyside with the race for Champions League qualification intensifying.
“We knew it was going to be difficult and that we are going to have to take opportunities like today,” Emery said.
“We lost a great opportunity today to take three points. We will have more chances in the next matches. It depends on us and also on other teams.
“We need to be consistent in 38 matches but we lost that consistency today. We need to be consistent in the next matches and if we do that we can win.
“We can be negative because we lost three points, but it’s in our hands to continue to take chances to be in the top four.”
Doubts over Aaron Ramsey’s ability to manage a groin issue for 90 minutes forced Emery to leave the in-form Wales star on the bench for the first half and Everton completely overran the starting midfield pair of Matteo Guendouzi and Mohamed Elneny, who was withdrawn at the break.
Granit Xhaka (groin) and Laurent Koscielny (foot) were left out of the squad altogether and both players could miss Napoli’s visit to Emirates Stadium in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday
“Maybe Laurent could’ve come back to play today but yesterday we knew it wasn’t possible,” Emery said.
“I want to be positive for Thursday, it depends on how he’s progressing. Xhaka is the same. They are going to be doubts for Thursday.
“When you lose one match, maybe you can look at the players who didn’t play, but I think it’s rarely the consequence.
Newcastle look safe now. Hopefully they will already be on holidays when Liverpool go there on May 5th. Either way I’d say Rafa won’t be trying his hardest to stop Liverpool if they are still in with a shout of the title then.
@Flaming Mo: I hope you’re right but Rafa’s as straight as an arrow and I can’t picture him telling a player to go easy can you?….it would be a bit like the time Kenny brought Blackburn Rovers to Anfield looking for a win to secure the premiership, no quarter given that day and none expected by Kenny, you play to win, that day Utd blew it themselves fortunately :)
@Caoimhin O’Murchadha: Matt ritchies left foot is like something sent from heaven his some man to whip a ball across the box
@Ings on Fire: is he not right footed?
@John: no his clearly left footed but ur glasses on
@John: he’s left footed, but he ain’t too bad with his right either
Where is C Clark?
@GARFARKLE: find out yourself
@Aj Leahy: shut up he just asked a question like to get aj /John which is the same account banned
@Ings on Fire: Thank you.
@GARFARKLE: no bother man
@Ings on Fire: funny that ings on fire is also my account
@Aj Leahy: shut up aj everyone knows about u and johns account is a joint account u salmon
@GARFARKLE: he got injured a few months back. Still not fit
@David O’Brien: Thank you.