Unai Emery Happy With Second Half Performance To Win At Sporting

Unai Emery says the heat may have played a part in our lethargic first-half display in Portugal…

Arsenal boss Unai Emery blamed the weather for what was a lacklustre first half against Sporting Lisbon, though the boss was delighted with another match-winning display after the interval, he told BT Sport.

We travelled to our nearest rivals in our group knowing that two wins from two would see us qualify as group winners with two games to spare.

We’ve completed the first objective today, as Danny Welbeck’s last-minute winner saw us grab all three points at a humid Estádio José Alvalade.

However, as has been the case this term, our first half was rather lacklustre and didn’t produce many clear-cut chances, though we drastically improved after the interval.

Instead of bemoaning a familiar pattern, Emery has praised the resolve in the team and the second-half display.

“Yes, but I think the first half there was a lot of heat in the atmosphere,” Emery explained.

“Also, the first half was not easy for us to play on the pitch with a high rhythm but like the last matches, little by little, we are earning metres on the pitch, earning the control with the ball possession.

“In the second half, we had chances to score before the one Danny Welbeck scored, and we deserved the victory.”

This habit of turning up in the second half is certainly a habit we want to keep, though allowing the game to pass us by in the first 45 minutes may result in serious punishment from a top team.

As we prepare to face the likes of Crystal Palace and Liverpool in the coming days, we can’t afford to ease ourselves into the game.