Arsenal press conference - as it happened: Unai Emery discusses Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, West Ham and more

Follow the very latest from London Colney as Emery faces the press

Arsenal 2018/19 Premier League profile

Unai Emery will today hold his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s home game against London rivals West Ham.

We’re only in the third week of the season and yet this already feels like something of a must win for the new Arsenal boss, following defeats by Manchester City and Chelsea. Can Arsenal finally get off the mark?

There’s plenty to discuss, including the situation of Aaron Ramsey. The Welshman still hasn’t put pen to paper on a new deal, while he was dropped for Saturday’s thrilling 3-2 loss at Stamford Bridge.

There are also likely to be a few questions on Mesut Ozil, who struggled for the second weekend in a row on Saturday. Will he keep his place in Emery’s starting XI? Or will the Spaniard be tempted to drop him? Follow all of the latest below.

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[23 August 2018 14:07 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Looking back to the Chelsea game, did Alex Iwobi’s goal - which featured 19 passes and 10 players - sum up how you want your 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.

[23 August 2018 14:11 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

On whether 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.

And 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.

[23 August 2018 14:15 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

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.

[23 August 2018 14:15 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

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.

[23 August 2018 14:15 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

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.

[23 August 2018 14:15 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

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.

[23 August 2018 14:16 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

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.

[23 August 2018 14:44 · Ben Burrows]

Miss any of that?

Here's a full breakdown of everything that was said this afternoon.