Unai Emery maintains he has been “happy” with the start of David Luiz after his shock switch from Chelsea to Arsenal.
Luiz completed a move across the capital for a bargain £8m on transfer deadline day and already he has made two starts for the Gunners – including last Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Liverpool.
The 32-year-old centre-back was criticised after giving away a penalty with a shirt pull on Mohamed Salah and then being beaten by Salah again as Liverpool eased to victory at Anfield.
Emery though has defended the Brazilian: “It is not easy for him, the adaption to us has been very quick, but I am very happy with him.
“His decision is very ambitious to come here and be with us, and he wants to help us. We can speak about some fault with one player or another player, but we can also talk about some good decisions and very good actions in each match from one player. And with him it’s the same.
“The penalty last Sunday, we cannot speak a lot about that, the action with Salah we cannot speak a lot about that. For example, for that penalty he has one yellow card so if he made a foul with Salah it’s the second.
“He was intelligent and we can speak about positive decisions and we can also speak about the goal. We are in our way and I like and want his mentality. I want his ambition. I want to transmit the ambition from him and me to other players. After we can be competitive.”
The Gunners boss refused to admit that now maybe a good time to play Spurs after they were rolled over by Newcastle in their last game.
“For us, to play matches like last week against Liverpool and this week against Tottenham, the two teams who played the final of the Champions League last year, is amazing,” said Emery, who says that Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can all play in the same XI.
“I think it’s the best test and every time is a good moment to play against them. Sunday, with our supporters, I think is the best moment to play and enjoy with our supporters in that match, that derby. After that is for the football. I think maybe that on Sunday, that match is the best match in the world for all football supporters.”
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