Unai Emery challenges Arsenal to improve away form and provides Hector Bellerin injury update
Arsenal beat Chelsea at the Emirates to keep their top four hopes alive
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Your support makes all the difference.Unai Emery has challenged his players to begin replicating their impressive home form on their travels, after a 2-0 win over London rivals Chelsea saw Arsenal keep their hopes of finishing in the top four alive.
Alexandre Lacazette put Arsenal ahead in the 14th minute before Laurent Koscielny’s header wrapped up an important win for the Gunners, who now sit just three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
It is Arsenal’s fifth Premier League win in a row at the Emirates and they have lost just once there all season, on the opening weekend against Manchester City. However away from the Emirates they have struggled, last winning on the road at the end of November.
“We need to find the right balance at home and away. At home you can show all the supporters what you can do,” Emery said after the win.
“The difference between last match and today’s game is very big, even with the same players, so we need to find that balance.”
Arsenal’s fine win was however marred by an injury to defender Hector Bellerin, with the Spain international departing in the second-half on a stretcher.
Bellerin was making his first start since suffering a calf injury last month but went down clutching his left knee after overstretching while attempting to disposes Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso.
The 23-year-old, who was replaced by Mohamed Elneny, received several minutes of treatment before departing to a standing ovation, and Emery admitted that Bellerin could be sidelined for a long period.
“We will have to wait to learn more,” he said. “We will learn on Sunday or Monday. I hope [it is not bad] but the first impression is not positive.”
However Emery ruled out signing an emergency replacement in the January transfer window.
“No, we have Ainsley [Maitland-Niles] who is playing well. He can help us playing as a right back and a winger. And we have Stephan Lichtsteiner. And don’t forget about Carl Jenkinson. We have players.”
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