Arsenal head coach Unai Emery doesn’t think the 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United was deserved.
The Blades triumphed in their Premier League encounter at Bramall Lane thanks to a first half goal from Lys Mousset.
Yet when Emery was asked by Sky Sports if the hosts deserved credit for the victory, his response was: “We didn’t deserve to lose.”
In fact the Spaniard felt his side had two penalty claims. The second – when Bukayo Saka went over a John Egan challenge and was booked for diving – was more debatable according to Emery. But the 47-year-old felt Egan pulling the shirt of Sokratis before that was stonewall.
“It was very clear the penalty with Sokratis,” Emery said.
“When we are working with VAR this is for review from my point-of-view, because it’s clear.”
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On the Saka incident he added: “He got the ball and was dribbling but I don’t know if it was a penalty. No penalty? Perfect, but a yellow card seems very hard.”
Did Emery credit the Blades at all for win over Arsenal?
In the end Emery did have something positive to say about United. However, for most of his post-match interview it was about the Gunners.
Which in fairness isn’t unusual; they are the team he manages after all. In fact, perhaps Chris Wilder and his side should take pride from the fact they have got under Emery’s skin.
“We created more chances than them but we didn’t score,” he continued.
“Here were the team that have conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League with Liverpool. So it was going to be difficult if they scored the first goal.
“In the end they defended well.”
The Blades certainly did defend well. As Emery says, only Liverpool have conceded as few as their seven league goals this season. Their four clean sheets is also a record.