Unai Emery says qualifying for the Champions League is very much in Arsenal’s own hands following their 1-0 win at Watford on Monday night.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s early goal was enough to hand the Gunners a rare three points on the road in the Premier League and it also helped them move back up to fourth in the standings.

The north Londoners know if they win all five of their remaining top-flight games between now and the end of the season then they will guarantee a return to the Champions League next term and Emery is happy they have their destiny in their own hands.

“Our position in the table is very important,” he said. “It is in our hands, to take the top four.”

Arsenal’s cause was helped by the sending off of Watford captain Troy Deeney just 60 seconds after Aubameyang opened the scoring, but the Hornets more than held their own with 10 men and Emery admitted after the match that his side should have controlled the game better with a man advantage.

He added: “I think we can control the match better, and I think it was very important in this position with one player more, to break their lines and to attack the last third better.

“But I think it’s very positive to have all three points.”

Arsenal will now turn their attention to the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie against Napoli on Thursday.

The Gunners will head to Naples holding a 2-0 advantage from last week’s first leg and they are priced at 4.33 to secure a win on the night, while Napoli are available at 1.73 and the draw is available at 4.00.