Unai Emery on Xhaka, his confidence, away factor and a summer clean out: Press Conference

Arsenal’s Champions League qualification hopes were dented by Crystal Palace. Unai Emery’s side suffered a 3-2 defeat at Emirates, thanks to goals from Christian Benteke, Wilfried Zaha and James McArthur. Despite the Sunday’s the Gunners still remain in the hunt for the remaining two Champions League qualification spots, alongside Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United. They are also through to the semi-final of the Europa League. Arsenal travelling to Molineux to face Wolves on Wednesday. Ahead of the game, Gunner boss Unai Emery has faced the press. Emery has confirmed, Aaron Ramsey and Denis Suarez will be out for the mid-week clash, on Xhaka the Spaniard added: “I don’t want to give anything away.” Arsenal are looking to bounce back from Sunday’s defeat, however, Emery was forced to explain what happened against Crystal Palace. “We made mistakes usually we don’t make at home in the matches. They used our mistakes to take this performance against us,” explained Emery. Sunday cannot give us doubt or loss of confidence. We need to be strong first with our confidence.” It has been reported earlier today, that Emery is ready to put seven Arsenal players for sale as the summer transfer window approaches. However, Emery has insisted, his focus is on the next matches: “For me the future doesn’t exist. [I’m] not thinking about the future. You need to play each match thinking about that, big spirit to do all we can individually and collectively. I believe in the players, I believe in our way. We have possibilities. Nothing about the future.” Since the start of the 2017-18 season, only 28% of Arsenal’s total points have come away from home in the Premier League (35/126); the lowest proportion of the  “big six” sides in the competition in this period. Emery has answered will away games play a factor: “We are speaking about being consistent and competitive. Sometimes you can be consistent and less brilliant and we won. Sometimes you are competitive, brilliant and get the victory. The two matches we won against Napoli and Watford we did them brilliant. It was enough to win. We need to improve. Maybe the next match it’s not enough to win. We are continuing our way of thinking to improve. Some moments in the 90 minutes we need not to be brilliant but competitive.” Four clubs remaining in the battle for the top-four, but Emery feels confident they will finish getting a Champions League place. “It depends on other teams. It is in our hands if we win. We want to be intelligent. On Sunday we didn’t win but maybe today we can say one point was important on Sunday. Maybe that can happen on Sunday. We will prepare to win but we can win, draw or lose. The first situation for us is in our hands,” said Emery. “Yesterday was a very difficult and tough match for Burnley. We thought they’d win but Burnley were very strong, the result is a draw.” At the end of his press-conference Emey was asked how well he thinks he has done at Emirates during his first season as a successor to Arsene Wenger. “I can’t say now. My test, personally, is the same [as the team]. I don’t use my personal situation to show. I want to be together in our test the team, the club, me. Our first objective is to be in the Champions League. The Europa League can give us a title. It is going to be very difficult. It’s really our only focus,” concluded Emery.

Premier League team of the week: Alexander-Arnold, Foden, Wijnaldum