Arsenal players train ahead of facing Sporting

  /  autty

Arsenal players laughed and joked in training on Wednesday as they challenge themselves to make it 11 consecutive wins in all competitions on Thursday.

Unai Emery's in-form side are in Lisbon to face Portuguese side Sporting and confidence was oozing from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Co during Wednesday's training session.

The Spanish boss has shown his commitment to the Europa League this season by turning to his big name stars as Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Aubameyang are all pushing for a start in Portugal.

Europe has also been an avenue for the Gunners to bring through some of their brightest young prospects and after scoring in the last European trip - a visit to face Qarabag - Emile Smith Rowe will look to face Sporting from the start.

Emery's players made it a perfect run of 10 wins on Monday night as they came from behind to beat Leicester thanks to a late brace from substitute Aubameyang.

His goal tally is soaring and the boss accepted goals are crucial but fans can be excited by so much in this improving team

'For me the individual goal-scoring statistics for the players is very important, as it is for the supporters to be excited with many things on the pitch,' said Emery in his press conference.

'Scoring goals is important for this spectacle, we want to score a lot and with different players. I want our strikers to have a lot of chances to score but also to find the balance defensively.'

The session, which included a version of 'piggy in the middle' where one player stands in the middle of a circle of his team-mates and tries to win the ball back, saw plenty of laughter.

There was one moment where Nigerian winger Alex Iwobi saw the ball popped through his legs which had team-mates in hysterics as they quickly jumped on him in fits of laughter.

Emery has real pedigree in the competition having won it three times managing Sevilla and he is determined to make it four successes with Arsenal this time round.

'I developed a lot individually in this competition, it is a title to play for and for other teams when you win this competition you go to the Champions League,' he said.

'I am telling every player, the supporters and the club that we are here to play to win.'

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