Unai Emery salutes David Luiz’s positive influence on Arsenal’s youngsters

Arsenal boss Unai Emery has praised David Luiz for setting an example to his younger teammates during Sunday’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth.

The Gunners secured all three Premier League points thanks to Luiz’s early header from a Nicolas Pépé corner.

Luiz v Bournemouth: Five key things to know…

• Luiz made an eighth consecutive Premier League appearance for Arsenal.
• The former Chelsea centre-back came in for heavy criticism after giving away penalties against Liverpool and Watford.
• He registered his first goal for the Gunners in the ninth minute against Bournemouth.
• It was enough to give Emery’s side all three points.
• Emery praised Luiz for his influence on the club’s young players.

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The result means the north London club stretched their unbeaten league run to five matches, although this was only a second win during that period, consequently leaving them third – one point behind second placed Manchester City.

Before this run of form they had fallen to a 3-1 defeat at Liverpool with Luiz coming in for huge criticism after giving away a penalty and being lackadaisical in his defensive work. He repeated that offence away to Watford a few weeks later.

Having recently started to play more and more youngsters, including Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, Emery is adamant Luiz, who he previously worked with at Paris Saint Germain, has a positive impact on the inexperienced members of Arsenal’s squad.

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“He is very positive,” Emery insisted when asked about Luiz being popular in the dressing room.

“He is every time speaking about positive things. He is helping the young players. He came late in the squad but his commitment is very high, his behaviour. Everybody was happy with that goal.”

Going into the international break in third place represents a real boost for the Gunners, who are aiming to reclaim a place in the Champions League this season.

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The north Londoners are not in action again until October 21st and although Emery is keen to take a break while his players are away with their respective national teams, he is already looking ahead to a clash against Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United.

He added: “I am going to rest also. Usually I go to Spain for some days. We are going to work and my mind now is on Sheffield!”