Is Unai Emery receiving too much criticism?

Is Unai Emery receiving too much criticism for Arsenal’s start? 

Its certainly a topic that has sparked debate amongst Arsenal fans, and there is certainly a strong argument for both sides, and one that I can’t quite decide on myself, so I’m going to weigh up both points of views and see which side is perhaps more justified than the other.

Reasons suggesting Emery’s criticism is unwarranted:

For a start, lets look at the facts; we’re third in the league. We’re not a title winning team, this squad isn’t at the level required to challenge Liverpool or Man City, so to currently be the best of the rest certainly raises eyebrows as to why Unai is getting so much criticism. We’re third in the league with the third best squad in the league. Whilst performances have been far from convincing in the league, we’re still picking up wins, we’re still getting more points than our rivals. Third was always going to be the best we were going to get this season and that’s where we are. We’ve only lost one game all season, and that was against the European champions, and that’s bearing in mind we’ve already played three of our ‘top six’ rivals. To be third in the league at this stage is very positive.

Furthermore, Emery has had to cope without arguably three members of arguably our best back four, and has still managed to get us into the top four. New signing Kieran Tierney is a much better option at left back than Sead Kolisinac both going forward and defensively. Unlike Kolisinac, Tierney is capable of crossing a ball to a player in the same shirt as him, whilst is far more competent defensively, as we saw against Standard Liege and Nottingham Forest, and whilst there not top opposition it is clear to everyone that he has the tenacity and technique required to be a brilliant full back for us. There’s also Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding who are both back in the reckoning as well. Holding adds a bit more height to our backline, whilst also is far less rash than the failing partnership of Sokratis and Luiz, whilst Bellerin is one of the best right backs in the league and has been fundamentally missed, with makeshift full back Ainsley Maitland-Niles covering there. Maitland-Niles is a good player, but he lacks the awareness and concentration to play at full back. Having these players come back into the fold is crucial if we are to see our performances improve. To be in this position with what is an almost entirely makeshift back four surely suggests Emery isn’t doing as badly as people suggest.

Emery also deserves huge credit for how he has implemented a number of top young players into the first team this season. This is without a doubt the best crop of young players the club has ever produced, with there being countless youngsters breaking into the first team all capable of playing at the top of English football. From the academy in particular, Joe Willock and Bukayo Saka have hugely impressed in both the league and the Europa, with other top youngsters such as Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith-Rowe not far behind. Emery has made sure that the top young players at the club are in a place where they can successfully transition into the first team and become top players. Its not just the academy either, with Matteo Guendouzi and Gabriel Martinelli also having been given opportunities. Guendouzi in particular has already cemented his place in the first team and is probably one of the first names on the team sheet. The tenacity and drive he plays with makes him a certain starter week in, week out, and has the passion to become a future club captain. Martinelli has four goals in two starts already and looks to be one of the best teenagers in world football right now. Emery deserves credit for implementing these players into the first team.

Reasons justifying Emery’s criticism:

Despite the fact that we’re third in the league, performances have been sub-par in the vast majority of league games this season. The collapse against Watford last month was absolutely unacceptable. 31 shots conceded against a side rock-bottom of the league is utterly scandalous. Despite being two goals up, we were very lucky not to have lost. A lack of defensive structure despite playing defensive football is quite frankly baffling. How can a manager play such pragmatic football yet fail so badly at coaching defending? It was comical. The Watford wingers were having a field day attacking at our full backs. We just never look comfortable in games and always look like we’re going to concede. Defensively, we’re no better than we were in Arsene Wenger’s diabolical final season in charge, which is very worrying. It was always going to be a tough job and was always going to take time, but we haven’t seen so much as a hint of progress when it comes to defending our goal.

In addition, two of our closest competitors last season, Spurs and Man Utd, have started appallingly. Tottenham’s dressing room seems to be falling apart, whilst this Utd side genuinely looks no better than a mid-table side, even on paper. We should have won those games. This was our best opportunity to end our hideous winless run in the league at Old Trafford dating all the way back to 2006, and whilst a draw away from home against Utd would usually be considered a good result, it is completely unacceptable to turn up in Manchester given there form and go for a draw. It was a great opportunity to cement dominance over a side we should be beating comfortably. Emery’s tactics meant that we were unable to do that. Whilst being third in the league is great, could we be higher? Both games we should be winning.

Moreover, putting too much trust in players that have not warranted it is incredibly frustrating. Making Granit Xhaka is a decision that I feel will ultimately cost him his job. Xhaka is an absolute liability and is not suited to the pace and power of the premier league whatsoever. He gives the ball away in costly positions, makes some utterly clueless tackles which were never going to pull off. He never seems to learn either. As Gary Neville said, he does it week in week out, season after season. these mistakes are what cost us numerous points throughout the season, and if we’re to progress as a club and get back to the level where we need to be, Emery needs to drop him. making him captain was a scandalous decision. It’s not just Xhaka either. Sokratis and David Luiz as a centre back pairing has not worked, it just hasn’t. Yet again, Emery is persisting with it. What ultimately drove Arsene Wenger out of Arsenal was he put too much trust in mediocre players, and persisted with tactics that just weren’t working, and at the moment Emery is doing the same. Calum Chambers has been excellent this season and impressed at centre back in the first game of the season against Newcastle, earning a clean sheet in the process. Why was he dropped? If you want to create a sustainable, solid defensive culture at the club then surely you start by picking your defensive players who are playing well? He’s been excellent at right back the past three league games, and now Bellerin is close to full fitness, surely Unai has got to trial a Holding-Chambers partnership? He can’t keep persisting with a pairing that isn’t working. Him sticking with these players is creating a weakness for other teams to exploit. During the 22-game unbeaten run, which was Emery’s best spell at the club, we found a successful formula in midfield with Lucas Torreira playing as a pivot in midfield. Torreira offered something similar to N’golo Kante, with his dynamism and tough tackling nature providing protection for our backline. For whatever reason, Emery has started using him more as a number eight, and it isn’t working. Why is he persevering with something that clearly isn’t going to work?

We also just don’t seem capable of putting games to bed. In the league this season, we’ve failed to win any games by more than one goal. Our inability to put games out of sight is particularly worrying. You can feel the tension amongst the fanbase inside the stadium. There is a lack of creativity in midfield, largely down to an inability to transition the ball from midfield to the front three. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is starved of chances throughout games, with Emery opting for a more defensive strategy which means we end up creating far less. We invite pressure on ourselves with our lack of creativity and poor defensive structure, which results in us conceding a lot more chances on goal and edging through games. Whilst we’re still winning these games, performances have been far from convincing. If Emery were to get his midfield right, if he were to find a balance between defensive cover, creativity and energy, we’d create far more and bring down the amount of chances the opposition are having. The amount of chances we’re giving away is unsustainable and needs sorting out, and honestly, I can’t see Emery being the man to do it.

In conclusion, I think there is certainly a case for both sides. We’re currently in a very good league position and have only lost once all season, to the European champions. It certainly isn’t as doom and gloom as some people are making out. But do I honestly think Emery is the man to bring the glory days back to Arsenal? We’ll never win the league unless the whole defensive culture changes at the club, and I just don’t see Emery being the one to change it. Is he the man to get us back into the top four? I think he will, but past this season I don’t think he can take the club any higher. I certainly wouldn’t sack him now but come the end of the season I really don’t think his deal should be extended. He certainly doesn’t deserve criticism to the extent that he’s receiving just yet given our results and league position but the same mistakes as last season are still being made, and if we want to progress as a club, I can’t see us doing it whilst Emery is the manager.