Jimenez: Gunners will bring out best in us

SEVILLA coach Manolo Jimenez believes tonight’s visit of Arsenal to the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan will bring out the best in his stuttering side. Sevilla warmed up for the encounter with a hugely disappointing 2-1 home defeat against Real Mallorca at the weekend — the UEFA Cup holders’ second successive league loss — and one that leaves them 10th in La Liga.

“We need to show what we want. This is the moment to show our credentials against one of the best, if not the best, teams on the continent,” said Jimenez. “We are aware of how difficult our opponents are, but we are also aware of how difficult we can make it for them if we play to the best of our ability.”

Freddie Kanoute is one of three players — Luis Fabiano and young full-back Jose Angel Crespo are the others — struggling with injuries who have been included in the squad but the latter is the biggest doubt as he has been out with a broken cheekbone.

Jimenez insists the most important thing for his side, who are five points clear of third-placed Slavia Prague, is to book their spot in the next phase before thinking about anything else.

“It is difficult to beat Arsenal in the form they are in. We are going to try to win, but also knowing that we still need to qualify,” he said.

“We are not going to be conservative but we will be intelligent. It would be important to finish first to avoid, in theory, the strongest teams. But, as everyone who follows football knows, in any competition any team can beat anyone.”