“We needed to win. We had to win in our way. We reacted very well to some moments we were struggling, trying to break the pressure. We were feeling better on the pitch after the first goal.

“We need the players [in the squad]. Emiliano Buendia, he was involved in the penalty, and every goal we’re scoring we’re happy with Watkins doing it but I want to add more players scoring. We were very competitive.

“We were planning to win with a clean sheet. We were compact defensively.

“We were trying to keep our balance. I think the only real strange, the real bad performance was against Leicester. Manchester City were better than us, Arsenal were good as well. Maybe we could have taken more points against Arsenal but they were better than us.

“Now our challenge is at home, how we can control the game better than we are doing. We have to think about each match how we can face it. Perfect today. It was really good how we reacted after three matches we lost.

“We have to be realistic. We are winning, we are losing. At the beginning it was trying to be top 10. We have to win more matches. [We’ll] try to create, to build a team to build a small family between us.

“Before the match I was speaking with the players here and they knew it was a tough match. At the same time, I read the last three matches were two wins and one draw. I was telling them that this was good how they played previously. It was difficult and tough at times and, in the first half, we were trying to be competitive but we didn’t deserve more in the first half. We kept going and kept ball possession and we were clinical. We stopped them from pressing and pressing. They didn’t get to our box. At the end, it was a very good three points.

“My family and friends will celebrate but we are going to prepare for the next match against Crystal Palace. We are grateful to our supporters for travelling away, supporting us.

“We aren’t playing the same competitive way at home. We are very competitive away and winning a lot of matches. We want to share with them but my next challenge is at home against Palace next Saturday. I want to keep being consistent like we were today. We will try and get better performances.

When Ollie was stepping up for the penalty you looked nervous. Did you have any doubts Watkins would score today?**

No. I was thinking how it can change the match if we score and was thinking about the next plan after the goal and how it can change.

I have confidence and it was very good, the decision from Emiliano Buendia, to give him the ball to score. That is the spirit I want to select each match, for players to choose the penalty shooter. I prefer to speak with them and the specialists that they are… I want them to share different moments. Today was the day for Ollie Watkins.

“It’s great for our supporters.

“They are travelling with us and away from home we are giving them more opportunities to be happy than at home.

“I want to share with them at home against Crystal Palace the same performances [as away from home], and find out what the difference is between us playing away and at home.

“In this process, we are going to find the solution and share with them our good moments at home.

“I’m very happy today because it was a good performance; everyone was great. Being competitive like we were today, it’s not easy to beat us.”

Unai Emery.


“It’s always nice to score goals. I’m feeling really confident in front of goal. The boys and the coach fill me with confidence. They put the ball in the position for me to finish. I have to do the easy part which is finish. Long may it continue.”

On a debate with Buendia over who would take a penalty - when Watkins was looking for a club-record Premier League scoring run - the England international said: “I was thinking about that but also I work on them all the time. We haven’t been fortunate with penalties this season. I’ve been waiting for my moment and I took it today.

“They tested us with a lot of long balls. Sean Dyche team, they’re going to be physical. But we were good all over the park.

“It’s been the objective to always move up the table. We’re a great team but it’s about game management for us, seeing games out when we’re ahead.”

Ollie Watkins.