Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Arsenal news: Pundit reveals ONE reason Unai Emery could save Gunners' season after Wolves
ARSENAL are unlikely to make the top four after their horrendous 3-1 defeat away at Wolves last night, but their saving grace this season could be the Europa League.
Arsenal could do well in Europa League says pundit
That is what ESPN FC pundits Shaka Hislop and Craig Burley believe.
The Gunners were defeated for the seventh time away from home this campaign and Sokratis Papastathopoulos’ 80th minute goal of little consolation in their Molineux drubbing.
Wolves raced to a 3-0 lead by half-time, after goals from Ruben Neves, Matt Doherty and Diogo Jota.
They looked good value for the lead and continued to press for more goals in the second half despite their advantage.
Arsenal, on the other hand, looked to be feeling the effects of three games in a week, as they were sloppy in possession and didn’t look as menacing going forward as they have done at times this season.
Unai Emery was without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for last night’s game, after the free-scoring striker picked up a sinus injury, and was unavailable for selection.
Arsenal have had trouble on the road this season, and Hislop revealed that he thinks this could be their undoing this year, as they continue to fight for a top four place.
“Arsenal’s season, the foundation has been a good home record, no losses since the opening day of the season,” he said.
“I thought they’d maybe turned the corner against Napoli with regards to their away record, but then they go and do that against Crystal Palace.
“You lose in this manner to Wolves, now you have to go to Leicester, a team who themselves are only three points behind Wolves.
“It isn’t looking good. If there was more of a fight, a better performance at Wolves, I could stick with them for at least another week.
“But what I saw today doesn’t tell me that they’re going to do it.”
Burley agreed, and hinted that Emery’s record in the Europa League could end up rescuing their season.
The Gunners will play Valencia in the semi finals of the competition, one which Emery won three times on the trot with Sevilla earlier in his managerial career.
“I suppose the only caveat for them is the Europa League, and Unai Emery’s record in the Europa League,” Burley chimed in.
“So, it’s not all dead in the water yet, but in terms of the Premier League it kind of is.”