Supporting Arsenal has never been easy. From the highs of the Invincibles to the lows of financial difficulty, we have seen it all, or have we?
The post-Arsene Wenger era was always going to be Arsenal’s most difficult challenge. Two consecutive seasons dropping out of the top four caused a ton of outrage against the legendary Arsenal boss and the call for change echoed far and wide.
‘The grass isn’t always greener on the other side’ was something everybody had to accept but have Arsenal fans really come to terms with it? Manchester United showed us how difficult it is for a new manager to come in and have immediate success.
After David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and now with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Red Devils are still struggling but are we on the same boat as them? Arsenal seem to have a clear idea for the future, something that’s questionable up north in Manchester.
However, football is all about the current results and as bright as the future looks for us, Unai Emery has questions that need answering. Just two losses in 12 games is a phenomenal record on paper but have the performances reflected the results?
Our four wins in the league this season could have easily turned into losses. We were incredibly lucky to have come away with a point against Watford while the performances in the draws against Tottenham and Manchester United were far from positive.
What has been our biggest problem?
Wenger’s Arsenal were subjected to a lot of criticism over the years but one thing nobody questioned was his philosophy. ‘Possession with progression’, as the great man once described it, had its flaws but there was always a clear identity.
14 months into Emery’s tenure, we wonder what really is the Spaniard’s philosophy. The former PSG boss promised pragmatism in his very first press conference and although he has varied his side’s formation on a number of occasions, the approach in the attack has always been the same.
Was Unai Emery the wrong appointment?
It’s easy to point the finger at Ivan Gazidis and co over the appointment of Emery but he did check all the boxes at the time. A proven commodity with three Europa Leagues, two French Super Cups and a Ligue 1 title among his other accolades is a hugely impressive resume for any club.
Mikel Arteta and Massimiliano Allegri were the other strong candidates at the time but there were red flags there too. Arteta’s inexperience at the top level and Allegri’s defensive style of play could well have been detrimental to our squad.
Carlo Ancelotti, who was available at the time, would have been the most sensible choice but would his appointment put us in a better position than the one we are in? One can only wonder.
Would sacking Emery change things?
A change of manager midway into the season is a drastic step that Arsenal are unlikely to take. A new manager will again take time to adjust the squad in a way that he wants to which would have repercussions over this season’s objectives.
At the end of this season, however, serious questions will need to be asked. Failure to get back into the Champions League could only mean one thing but even if Arsenal manage to make the cut, the board will have a big decision on their hands.
What should Emery change?
The most popular answer to this question would be to start Mesut Ozil. The problems behind the scenes between the duo has been overly evident for a while now but irrespective of anyone’s opinion about the German, it is hard to deny that Arsenal play better when he is on the pitch.
Emery also needs to instil a sense of courage among the squad. Arsenal have to start games quicker and we need to take control of the games by the scruff of its neck. We have often looked timid in our attacks and little adventure higher up the pitch will do more good than bad, especially against the smaller sides who tend to put numbers behind the ball.
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