Unai Emery assured Arsenal fans that missing out on the Premier League’s top four will not knock their confidence ahead of a vital Europa League semi-final, second leg, against Valencia.
A 1-1 draw at home to Brighton all but ended their hopes of a Champions League place this season, meaning Arsenal’s only hope of a seat at Europe’s top table next season will come via winning the Europa League.
Arsenal take a two goal lead to Spain on Thursday, thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s late goal in the 3-1 win at the Emirates earlier this week.
However, having failed to keep the pressure on rivals Tottenham against a side whose Premier League safety was confirmed less than 24 hours before kick-off could have sent Emery’s side to the continent with their confidence knocked.
“No, I think it will switch off. We are going to be strong in our mentality to prepare the best possible match on Thursday and think that our performance, in some moments, was very good and we are going to try to do the best performances of our last matches on Thursday,” Emery said.
The Gunners had been quite the force at home in the League this season, but a recent defeat to Crystal Palace before the point taken against Brighton has hindered their season.
“We can speak of different issues in the season but it’s better to take the focus for Thursday against Valencia,” Emery said when asked what had cost his side this term. “The Premier League is our first target and we didn’t get the position we wanted.
“We tried today for this victory. We were very strong at home but in the last two matches the circumstances didn’t give us the way to win vs Palace and Brighton.
“Maybe the key is not being consistent these last two matches. We deserved more from these games but it didn’t give us more points.”
During a post-match presentation in which Aaron Ramsey and Petr Cech said their goodbyes ahead of a move to Juventus and retirement, respectively, it was also suggested that Danny Welbeck would be leaving the club this summer. Emery confirmed that, after talks with the board, the former Manchester United man would not be part of his squad next season.
