Emery won’t hide behind fixture fatigue excuse

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has refused to follow some of his counterparts by suggesting the Premier League should do more to help English clubs in Europe. Both Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea’s Maurizio Sarri have called on the league to fall in line with much of the continent and assist teams playing in European competition and the fixture congestion it causes.

The Gunners face Rennes tonight in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie. Though the game at the Roazhon Park is sandwiched between huge Premier League games — against Spurs and Manchester United — as the battle for a top-four finish hots up, Emery insists it cannot be used as a reason for any poor performances from Arsenal.