RENNES, France (AFP) - Arsenal manager Unai Emery is confident his team can bounce back from their Europa League setback in Rennes when they face a euphoric Manchester United side this weekend.
The Gunners played most of Thursday's (March 7) game with 10 men after Sokratis Papastathopoulos was sent off late in the first half as they threw away an early lead to lose 3-1 in France in their Europa League last 16, first leg.
Alex Iwobi had put them in front, but Rennes took advantage of their extra man to come back and claim a potentially vital two-goal cushion.
The result means they should have their work cut out if they are to progress to the quarter-finals, with the second leg against the Ligue 1 club scheduled for next Thursday.
"The first 40 minutes I think we controlled it, we scored, and we didn't concede many chances to them," said Emery, who accepted his team did not play well after the sending-off.
Benjamin Bourigeaud and Ismaila Sarr scored for Rennes either side of a Nacho Monreal own goal.
"We need to change our performance and I have confidence that we can with our players and with our supporters helping us to give us a big atmosphere."
Before that game, Arsenal entertain United on Sunday in a huge game between two sides battling for a top-four place in the Premier League.
"We are finding fresh players and a different energy for each match, and for Sunday I think it's going to be the same," said Emery, whose side are fifth in the Premier League table, one point behind United in fourth.
Â
"Every player worked a lot and we are going to look forward to the next match, but I know and I am positive for Sunday, that with fresh players with energy, with quality, that we have the possibility to put in a big performance against Manchester United and win against them."
United will head into the game fresh from their stunning 3-1 win away to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday that took them through to the Champions League quarter-finals on away goals.
That result was achieved with a depleted side, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team will also take confidence from the fact they won 3-1 at Arsenal in the FA Cup in January.
"They are in a very good moment but we are together in the table and we played against them one month ago in the FA Cup - we lost 3-1 but I remember we did very good things, we had chances," said Emery.
"We know Sunday is a tough match, an amazing match for everybody, we will be at home with our supporters, and we need a very big performance from each player."
Arsenal will be able to call on Alexandre Lacazette for that game - the French striker is suspended for the two legs against Rennes.
Barcelona Give Fresh Hope To La Liga Rivals After Bilbao Stalemate Updated: 11 February 2019 08:53 IST The draw makes it three games without a win for Barcelona.
Barcelona give fresh hope to La Liga rivals after Bilbao
Sarri slammed over Kepa but says issue settled, Football News
Here, AFP Sports looks at five things we learnt from the Premier League's final fixtures of 2018. Liverpool's title to lose? The league leaders haven't lost all season and unless City end their
Five things we learned from the Premier League this weekend
Tottenham Hotspur showed why manager Mauricio Pochettino is a wanted man by thrashing Everton 6-2 at Goodison Park on Sunday to close to within six points of Premier League leaders Liverpool. Spurs have had to cope with the unwanted attention of Pochettino being linked with the Manchester United job following Jose Mourinho's sacking this week.
Spurs shine to hit Everton for six | The Guardian Nigeria
ManUtd News - Buffon identifies two problems PSG have ahead of Man Utd clash. Gigi Buffon has told Paris Saint-Germain to show "a spirit of sacrifice for the team" with Edison Cavani joining
"We Have To Improve Mentally" - Gianluigi Buffon Warns PSG
After giving up 39 points to Damian Lillard in the opener, the Denver Nuggets were determined to make sure Portland's role players would have to bear the burden of evening up the series. CJ
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets Live Score and
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola predicts his side will "suffer" against fourth-tier Newport County in their FA Cup fifth round match on Saturday but has urged his players to adapt to a battered playing surface at Rodney Parade.
Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky trip to Newport
Football: Man City look like world's best side but Liverpool will fight till the end, Klopp stresses The prospect of Liverpool themselves completing a Premier League and Champions League double
Football: Man City look like world's best side but Liverpool
It took 693 days but Tottenham finally returned "home" and in their state-of-the-art new digs, Spurs not only won but began a whole new era.
Tottenham Hotspur | New Era
Everton Football Club (/ ˈ ɛ v ər t ən /) is a football club in Liverpool, England, that competes in the Premier League, the top flight of English football.The club have competed in the top division for a record 116 seasons, missing the top division only four times (1930-31 and three consecutive seasons starting with 1951-52) since The Football League was created in 1888.
Mauricio Pochettino urges Spurs to fight for title and Champions League Description: The pair will now be fresh for Tuesday's crucial Champions League trip to Catalonia with Spurs needing to win at the Camp Nou to guarantee progress to the last 16.
Pochettino says destiny has rewarded Spurs after Champions
Football: Japan's Maya Yoshida warns young teammates
sportstons.com/soccer/football-japans-maya-yoshida-warns-young-teammates-pressure-comes-with-the-territory/
Football: Japan's Maya Yoshida warns young teammates - pressure comes with the territory TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japan captain Maya Yoshida warned his young teammates that they will need to handle the pressure that comes with being Asian Cup favourites as the four-time winners prepare to open their campaign against Turkmenistan on Wednesday (Jan 9).
Football: Japan's Maya Yoshida warns young teammates
0 comments:
Post a Comment