Unai Emery has refused to confirm whether Denis Suarez will start Arsenal’s next Premier League match, also revealing the deadline day signing trained alone on Monday.
Arsenal confirmed the loan capture of Barcelona midfielder Suarez on the final day of the January transfer window, and he debuted three days later as a second half substitute in the Gunners’ defeat by Manchester City.
Having now trained for a full week with his new team, many believe Suarez was in the frame for his first start on Saturday, when Emery takes his side to bottom team Huddersfield hoping to secure a win that could move Arsenal back into the Premier League’s top four.
However, Emery refused to confirm whether Suarez will be named in the starting line-up on Saturday, appearing to suggest the 25-year-old was not up to scratch upon his arrival at the Emirates.
Emery also revealed Suarez trained by himself on Monday as he works to reach the required level to be a part of this Arsenal squad.
Speaking in a press conference, Emery said: “His [Suarez’s] adaptation to us and also on Sunday in 25 minutes, in the first days with us, is not with good performance.
“This week he worked Monday alone here with our coaches and also yesterday and today he’s working with a different adaptation, better than last week. I hope he’s continuing to improve every day.
“Then he can show in the next matches how he can help us, better than in the first match against Manchester City.”
Huddersfield are without a win since November and have lost 12 of their previous 13 matches.
Given the Terriers’ woeful form, Emery admits Saturday’s match is a must-win for his team.
“Yes [it is a must win],” the Spaniard continued.
“We started very well away, changing our mentality, but now we need to recover this confidence, to recover this performance and the next opportunity is Saturday against Huddersfield.
“But it is difficult. These matches are difficult and they are playing for the possibility to continue in the Premier League.
“Their last results have not been good but with their new coach [Jan Siewert], I am sure that they are going to play with a big ambition and a big performance on Saturday.”