Unai Emery was asked about a range of topics when he sat down with the media on Thursday afternoon ahead of the West Ham United match.
Our head coach was asked about the style of play he is trying to implement, the team's form and Jack Wilshere's return to Emirates Stadium.
Here is a complete transcript of what he said:
on how different West ham will be...
In our process, we are going 38 matches [in total] against all the teams. Whether you are playing against Manchester City, it’s the same as if you’re playing against West Ham on Saturday. There are three points on this game. It’s clear that every game demands different things tactically. After the first two matches, we have two defeats and we need to win this match against West Ham. The difficulty is in this game because West Ham are a good team with good players and a good coach. They know the Premier League very well and they have a lot of new players. We are thinking in our way and about our work to create our ideas and our system on Saturday with our supporters at the Emirates. I think it’s very important to show them a better performance than in the two first matches. We are preparing well, I am feeling well when I look at the players in training every day.
on Iwobi's goal summing up the way he wants his team to play...
We want to go forward and score. Maybe we can do it directly with one long pass or by progressing with the passes, controlling possession to [help us] win the games. We can find a goal like on Saturday against Chelsea, or with less passes on the pitch. For me what’s important is that all the players know how to [use] the ball in each match and that they use the [ball in] the best moment or the best way to attack against the opponents.
on if Koscielny is ahead of schedule…
He’s working very hard. First he was in France. He came back to us last Sunday. We are happy to have him here with us, because he’s our captain and he’s showing us his spirit to stay with us. We need to be patient with him because the injury was an important injury. It’s clear that it’s very important to stay with us, working here and showing us that he wants to help us.
on when he could play…
It’s difficult to know. You look at this morning, he’s running, he’s working on the pitch. The progress is very good progress.
on if he’s happy to change his style based on the opponent…
My idea is first control, but the opposition want the same. With this control, you can be near to win and then know when you need to change the rhythm. I know we need intensity in every moment in the games. This control is to not let the opposition play. For example in the two first matches, we didn’t have the control [enough - only in some moments, but not like what we need to find to win. Saturday is another match, tactically it will be different. It will be demanding and I want to have more control to find the win in this match.
on if he will change his formation…
We are working on different situations tactically. In the first we are playing with four at the back, then we have two and one, and one and two. With two and one, it is like a 4-2-3-1 and one, two, is for a 4-1-4-1 or a 4-3-3. We have players who train in this system. The moment on the pitch is different. If we need to improve in this mobility, the quality is very important, but also how the player is moving on the pitch. I think with two systems, we can continue to progress and think about winning the next match.
on if he could play with two up front on Saturday…
At the moment, no. At the moment, I think we need to have the control with the possession, with the positioning on the pitch, with more players inside. And after this possession, to do the attacking moments and defending moments with this balance. But, it is one possibility to continue in our progress and in one moment to try also to play with two scorers. In the last match of the pre-season, against Lazio, I did it with Lacazette and Nketiah. But also, this position also for the players, they know that in one moment we can do that. But at the moment, no.
on Jack Wilshere returning…
I spoke with him for 15 minutes here in Colney before he left. The first thing for me is I have respect for his career here. And then, he chooses what the best was for him in his future. It’s for that, on Saturday, I know that here, the supporters like him and have this respect also. I think there is a good reception for him here. Then we are going to play and we are going to think after that, for us to win. But, I [hope] the best for his career.
on Aubameyang and his form in training…
The first is to create chances, situations and attacking moments where the player arrive in the box and with the balance to use the small space the opposition gives us. And then, I am sure they are going to score if we create a lot of chances in the game. The first idea for us on Saturday is to create these chances and then the players’ confidence for starting to arrive in the box, to score. Maybe the players can not score three good chances in one match and on another day, I am sure they are going to do maybe the same chances in one match and score three. For that, Aubameyang is a player who, in his career, has scored a lot and he is going to do that here also.
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