Why Arsenal should hold onto Unai Emery
Unai Emery has kept his doubters silent for the time being as Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 victory over German side Eintracht Frankfurt midweek in the Europa League. Frankfurt aren’t the same side from last year but a victory like that is quite emphatic.
However, Emery is on a tight rope right now. Arsenal’s director had to come out publicly in support of the current coach after a poor start to the Premier League season, with regards to the expectations after a very exciting transfer window.
Emery has a contract for the season and if he impresses, it will be up to the board to allow an extension. It is tough to find a successor to a manager who has had control throughout the structural hierarchy of the football club after seeing rivals Manchester United struggle post-Sir Alex Ferguson.
Wenger’s side were known for their sublime football and within a year, it’s not as good on the eye as it used to be at the Emirates. Critics of the Frenchman would often suggest that he was very naïve as he never set his teams up with a defensive backbone.
However, the Gunners have conceded 96 shots in the league so far, which is the highest in the top 5 leagues and it leaves Emery in a rock and a hard place.
One change that the Spaniard has brought into the first-team is the level of intensity, which was clear to see last season and he’ll need to energize his players with the same this season, which has only been seen in patches so far this season like the second half against local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
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Emery has a lot of new players and players coming back from injury, who need to be bedded into the squad and it’s too soon to make a judgement on him after only 5 Premier League games.
He’s got most of his preferred backline still to come into the fold and there are a lot of academy players knocking on the door as well so it’d be a little premature of the board to make any decision.
If the results don’t improve in the short-term and top-4 looks like a stretch by Christmas, a decision might have to be made but for now, it’s still too early.