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Unai Emery says he is his own biggest critic' as Arsenal bid to end away-day woes

Head coach confirms Henrikh Mkhitaryan is fit to return following injury suffered in December

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Unai Emery admits Arsenal must improve their away form but says he is own biggest critic

Unai Emery admits Arsenal need to turn around their troubling away form, and insists nobody is more critical of his performance than himself.

The Gunners have not won in their last six Premier League matches away from the Emirates Stadium, which has contributed to them lying sixth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Arsenal's current run of results away from home under Emery is not as bad as the seven successive away defeats they suffered under Arsene Wenger last season, but the head coach knows they need to improve.

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Highlights from Manchester City's 3-1 win against Arsenal in the Premier League

Emery said: "My first critic is myself. We can make the top four, but we know it's not easy.

"We are strong at home, but I think we need to do better away. We started very well, changing our mentality to get more points away. But now we need to recover our confidence and performance.

"Also we know defensively we need to do better. We tried to play with three and two centre-backs. Be passionate, be calm but above all work."

DUBLIN, IRELAND - AUGUST 01: Arsenal Head of Recruitmen Sven Mislintat  before the Pre-season friendly between Arsenal and Chelsea on August 1, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Image: Arsenal's head of recruitment Sven Mislintat will leave the club on Friday

Ahead of Arsenal's next away game - against bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield - Emery paid tribute to departing head of recruitment, Sven Mislintat.

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The German leaves the Emirates on Friday, and Emery said: "I worked with him for eight months. My relationship with him is good. He is a very good scout. I worked well with him.

"The decision between him and the club, I don't know exactly. I wish him good luck in the future."

Henrikh Mkhitaryan walks off the pitch after the abandoned Premier League 2 match between Arsenal U23 and West Ham United at Meadow Park on February 4, 2019
Image: Henrikh Mkhitaryan played for Arsenal U23s against West Ham earlier this week - the game was abandoned due to fog

Emery also confirmed Henrikh Mkhitaryan is in contention to return to the Arsenal side having recovered from the foot injury that has kept him out of action since December.

"We thought he was not fit enough to play against Manchester City," explained Emery. "But this week, after playing with the U23s and working with us, it is the first time I can think of him with us."

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