Unai Emery percaya Arsenal boleh berpuas hati selepas mencapai objektif menduduki tangga ketiga Liga Perdana Inggeris sebelum tempoh rehat antarabangsa.
Jaringan pertama David Luiz buat The Gunners cukup untuk membolehkan pasukannya menang 1-0 ke atas Bournemouth di Emirates, semalam.
Bek tengah itu melepasi kawalan Callum Wilson untuk menanduk bola masuk hasil sepakan sudut Nicolas Pepe pada minit kesembilan bagi meletakkan pasukannya hanya satu mata di belakang pasukan tangga kedua, Manchester City, yang tewas mengejut 2-0 di tangan Wolverhampton Wanderers di laman sendiri.
Arsenal bergelut selepas meraih gol pendahuluan itu dan beraksi di bawah tekanan tatkala Bournemouth bangkit selepas rehat.
Bagaimanapun, aksi keras ketika bertahan yang ditampilkan membolehkan Arsenal meraih perlawanan keempat tanpa dibolosi daripada enam aksi dalam semua kejohanan, sekali gus melegakan pengurus, Emery.
"Ia objektif kami hari ini," katanya selepas memintas Leicester City di tangga ketiga.
"Ia sangat penting untuk keyakinan.
"Mungkin dalam babak kedua kami bergelut di luar jangkaan dan berasa tertekan.
"Bagi saya, ia satu langkah untuk pemain muda dan pasukan. Kami tidak gentar walaupun lawan cuba menekan kami."
Dia menambah: "Kami sangat gembira dengan keputusan ini dan berbangga dengannya."
Luiz dan bek kanan, Calum Chambers, jelas menyinar buat Arsenal yang masih belum tewas dalam semua kejohanan sejak tewas 3-1 di tangan pendahulu, Liverpool, Ogos lalu.
Emery memuji persembahan penjaring gol kemenangan itu yang jelas menjadikan pasukannya lebih baik berbanding skuad yang menduduki tangga kelima musim lalu.
"Dia sangat positif," ujar Emery mengenai bekas bek Chelsea itu.
"Dia sentiasa bercakap perkara positif. Dia membantu pemain muda.
"Luiz lewat menyertai skuad tetapi memberi komitmen yang tinggi."
Buat Bournemouth, mereka seharusnya meraih mata pertama di Emirates sekiranya Wilson memilih untuk melakukan rembatan berbanding menolak kepada rakan sewaktu situasi kelam-kabut dalam kotak penalti selepas rehat.
Terkejut dengan gol awal tetapi bangkit dalam babak kedua menyaksikan pengurus The Cherries, Eddie Howe, kecewa tetapi tetap berpuas hati.
"Kami memberi reaksi melampau menentang Arsenal," katanya.
"Anda tidak boleh melakukannya berdepan pemain bagus.
"Apabila kami beraksi dengan baik, ia tidak memberi kesan kepada sesiapa. Tidak kira bila kami beraksi, peluang sentiasa ada untuk menang."
Penulis Jemputan
Sun Oct 06 2019


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