Unai Emery backs Arsenal to reach Europa League last 16 despite loss

Unai Emery defiantly backed Arsenal to reach the Europa League last 16 on Thursday night despite a humiliating defeat by BATE Borisov.

The Gunners mustered a feeble display in Belarus, slumping to a shock loss courtesy of Stanislav Dragan’s goal to leave their European aspirations firmly in the balance.

To make matters worse Alexandre Lacazette will miss next week’s second leg through suspension after being shown a straight red card for a clear elbow on Aleksandar Filipovic in the closing stages.

Unai Emery defiantly backed Arsenal to reach the Europa League last 16 following 1-0 defeat

However Emery refused to criticise his players on Thursday night, instead claiming that he remains confident Arsenal will overturn the deficit in next week’s crucial return leg.

‘We play another 90 minutes next week and I’m sure it’s going to be different,’ he said. ‘We worked. I am happy with players’ effort. Our big opportunity is next week at home.

‘Today is not the result we wanted. We deserved more but they worked for this. Next week is going to be different.

Stanislav Dragan’s goal leaves the Gunners’ European aspirations firmly in the balance

‘I trust in our players and in our stadium with our supporters. We can win or lose but we play the second match and I trust in our work and preparations to make a different result.

‘I am not shocked. I knew before the match it would be two games. We wanted to get best result. I respect them and watched matches they played.

‘They are defensively well organised. We worked to stop them but they scored one. In attacking moments we had more chances than them but the last action was not efficient.

‘We did all to win. It’s the first 90 minutes. But we know it’s more difficult, we prefer a better result.’ 

Alexandre Lacazette will miss next week’s second leg through suspension following red card

Meanwhile, on Lacazette’s red card, the Arsenal manager added: ‘I didn’t see the action but we need to control the frustration. It’s bad news. Next week we won’t have him but there is a chance for another player.’

Arsenal lacked creativity against BATE, raising further questions over why Emery appears to have frozen Mesut Ozil out of his plans.

Ozil didn’t travel to Belarus despite recovering from the illness that ruled him out of Saturday’s win over Huddersfield, but Emery added: ‘Today those that were here, we can win with them and we deserved that.

‘Last week we won (against Huddersfield) and we played with the same players. It’s not for one player or another player. We can win with every player and lose with the same players.’