Unai Emery Admits Top Four Will Now Be Tough After Southampton Defeat

Defeat at Southampton has left us a little adrift of our top four rivals…

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery admitted that getting into the top four will be difficult after suffering our first defeat in 22 games at Southampton on Sunday, Sky Sports reports

In what was arguably our worst defensive display of the season, we allowed a Southampton side who’re currently in the midst of a barren spell to win their first game at home this season.

Emery was forced to field a makeshift back three given our defensive crisis, with Stephan Lichsteiner, Laurent Koscielny and Granit Xhaka making up our defensive trio.

We conceded three headed goals which highlighted an odd flaw in our game, which now leaves us chasing two of our direct rivals.

“Our demand is very big but also the level is very high level with the other teams,” Emery was quoted as saying.

“And if we won’t win like today, we cannot be in the top four.

“Other teams, usually they are winning but we need to do our way and continue to build. The objective is, therefore, top but we know it’s not easy because the other teams are at a high level.

“We need to be very, very demanding of ourselves, like we are.

“After 22 matches we didn’t lose and we are only fifth position in the table and the reason is because other teams are very well,” Emery concluded.

It’s that final statement which puts our unbeaten run into perspective given that it didn’t results in a comfortable position in terms of the table.

Our win against Spurs earlier this month took us above our arch rivals in a matter of three games, we find ourselves five points behind.

It shows the level within that top six and how consistent we need to become.