Unai Emery wants to win the Europa League to add some silverware to the Arsenal trophy cabinet, not just to secure Champions League football.
After being held to a 1-1 home draw by Brighton on Sunday, the Gunners’ hopes of finishing in the Premier League’s top four are all but over.
That means Emery must guide his team to Europa League glory if he is to end his first season at the helm by taking Arsenal back to the continent’s elite club competition.
However, Emery insists he is not feeling any additional pressure to deliver the Europa League title now it remains Arsenal’s only route into the tournament. “We started with two possible routes to the Champions League, one through Premier League and second through Europa League, and we are speaking about Europa League like it’s one title,” he said. “We want to play for the possibility to take the title, and secondly for the Champions League.
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We know it is going to be difficult and we are finished in the Premier League, no possibility, but we have a possibility in this competition. “With big ambition, full motivation, strong mentality, I want to enjoy this game. Games like this, away, difficult team, for an important target is all positive for us. “It (feeling pressure) is not a condition for me. I am positive. I am very demanding with myself and give my players this mentality we want to do something important. I am not feeling pressure like a negative.”
