Arsenal boss Unai Emery has picked Henrik Mkhitaryan for praise after the 1-1 draw London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
Mkhitaryan was picked ahead of Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and did play well in a feisty match at Wembley that saw both teams awarded penalties. Harry Kane converted from the spot to make it 1-1 but Aubameyang failed to score and pull a win for Arsenal. Emery has now explained what convinced him to pick the Armenian ahead the other two mentioned beforehand.
“He can do it because physically he has a big [capacity]. He can get to the two boxes, defensively and offensively. After that, I think he also has the quality to help us in our style of play and for example, he usually can play 90 minutes with being consistent in his work. Another player, maybe, cannot do that with this big intensity. On Saturday we changed some players after Wednesday, we changed also some players to get fresh players, fresh energy and I think it’s a good combination and was important to help us. Not for winning today, but for being closer to do that.” Emery told Arsenal.com
The Spaniard also explained why he keeps changing his playing style in almost every match. He admitted that he likes seeing his team adapt and learn to play in different styles.
“Each match is different, we are playing with a back four and also with three centre backs sometimes, and I think the team is improving and is learning to play different systems. But with the same ideas. It’s not the same to play with one player or another player, because maybe he has bigger qualities or better qualities more like a winger or like a full back or like a right back.”