Pressure Of Top-Four Finish On Arsenal Despite Jumping To Third Place

Arsenal might be third in the Premier League after Monday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle United but Unai Emery believes the pressure is still upon them to qualify for Champions League.

“Our target is very clear,” the Spanish manager said. “It’s going to be very difficult but step-by-step we’ve started to rise up the table after the first two matches in the Premier League when we lost against Manchester City and Chelsea.

“We are improving and now we are third. But we know it is going to be difficult for us because our opposition is big opposition and it is going to be very tough for us. We need to convince people that we can be consistent away.

“The opposition is going to demand us to get a lot of points at the end of the season and I am only going to think of the next match.

“Our challenge is away because we are going to play five matches away in the last seven matches. Our challenge is to be as consistent away as we are at home.”

He further added, “We were playing some key matches, against Manchester United, against Tottenham, against Chelsea.

“And we had these opportunities and we won. We drew against Tottenham, but we were being consistent in winning more matches to be closer to them. Now is the consequence.

“Today, being consistent and also taking a big performance. But with big spirit, I think we did that.

“Today, for me, is an important victory and it’s important to take this confidence and this position on the table.

“But I know Sunday is a big challenge and a very good challenge because each match is so hard in the Premier League.”