Emery’s season on a precipice

by .

It’s been very interesting watching the back and forth on Emery over the past few days.

I am just a mediator these days.

A deliverer of the facts.

One of my friends told me I needed to be nicer to Emery, so I will be.

He’s taken on a hard job. The squad had too many drossy players left in it. He’s made improvements.

The interesting thing with the improvements, is they aren’t as data-driven as they were a few weeks ago.

The man thing he’s addressed this year is competitiveness in the big games.

He’s also shown that he can outthink big managers.

Our tactics aren’t always great but be fair, there are tactics, which is a huge advancement at Arsenal.

The interesting thing to look at for me is the flip of coin that’s going on with how to look at the season.

If you compare Emery’s season to the penultimate season of Wenger, things look very similar. Now, I compare him to that season because it was Wenger’s second worse season ever. Comparing to last season is a softball. Also, the season I’m comparing to earned Wenger a new deal, his last earned him a red card.

We are already two goals worse off from a defensive standpoint.

We have to score 9 goals to be offensively better.

We have to win all three games to match the points total.

Add to that: Our defensive xG maps almost perfectly to what we’ve achieved… we are as bad as it looks. There’s no luck involved.

Look at our attack, and we have been ruthlessly efficient. Literally the best conversion rate we’ve ever had. That is going to be hard to sustain.

Then look at our away record and we’ve kept one clean sheet all season.

The flip side of this is you could say we should only be comparing Emery to last season. Sure, things are better than the year the squad basically gave up on Wenger. Let’s be a bit more ambitious than that.

The other valid argument Emery backers can have is this:

NONE OF IT MATTERS IF WE MAKE TOP 4 OR WIN EUROPA.

… and that’s the rub of it. Exactly what I said when everyone was crowing about points a few weeks ago. It’s all irrelevant if you don’t meet your objective.

We can still make top 4 in the Premier League. That would be epic. I would dance partially clothed in the street if that happened.

We have a very good chance of beating Valencia. Then it’s a roll of the dice in a final against two sides I’d fancy us against.

So when assessing Emery, you have to decide what you think is greatness.

Tangible improvements to tactics, defence or attack.

Or just STFU we qualified for the big boy European trophy.

It’s going to be a very interesting scorecard come the end of the season… and to be clear, I think it’s a blend of both. If he makes the Champions League, he deserves all the love we can give him. If he doesn’t, I think we’ll have an uphill battle next season, because £45m is getting us nowhere.

Arsenal and Emery are perched on the precipice. Another chance at relevancy… or a further decline into the pit of mediocrity.

Chelsea, United and Spurs will not stand still. This is our chance. We have to make something of our last 3 Premier League games and we have to do something special in the Europa.

Huge month ahead, strap in. x

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London gunner

Looking at Liverpool highlights what we miss.

We need runners, we need pace we need players utilizing the channels and we need that more direct long pass to create goal scoring opportunities to unlock defenses before they have time to solidy defence. Our build up is too slow unlock Liverpool who can be 0-60 in a mili second.

SpainishDave

Here we go Emery is spouting on about ‘we will be the best team in the world, have patience, all the old sound bites are coming out to cover his arse, knowing he’s screwed up this season.
Also citing how hard it is ha I’d 6 big teams in the Prem.
Didn’t mention why we couldn’t beat clubs much lower down the league.
Emery’s is Wenger lite

gonsterous

benny .

what exactly will vieira be bringing to the club ??
If we get rid of emery, why not go for a proper manager ? What does le grove have against experienced managers ?

bennydevito

I think we should hijack Everton’s and Leicester’s attempts to sign Gomez and Tielemans on permanent deals. Also Newcastle’s Perez has said he’s willing to listen to other club’s offers before signing permanently at Newcastle. Spurs being tipped to sign Grealish – we should try to hijack that too. I know our priority is defence but we lack quality all over the pitch and the first 3 players I mentioned are proven premier league quality all at smaller clubs who would all be upgrades to what we currently have. Gomez and Tielemans would replace Ramsey and Ozil and Perez Welbeck.… Read more »

bennydevito

Gonsterous,

I have nothing against experienced managers but if we fail to get CL football I think we should start again because Vieira is a club legend and ex captain who knows us through and through and would surely unite the fanbase. I happen to think Emery is doing as good a job as can be expected but a lot don’t. That’s all I’m saying.

bennydevito

Emery has hardly screwed up, that’s very far fetched. The players have screwed up as the squad is woefully inadequate.

gonsterous

benny

I bet viera will be thrilled to add that to his CV.
Club legend
knows the club
unite the fan base.
Just what all managers need in their locker.

Batistuta

gons

there’s never going to uniting the Arsenal fan base to be honest, you’ll still get people like CG and Pierre calling for wengerball over Vieira’s boring grinding out results style

Un Na naai

Ben arfa Cahill Giroud Darmian Godin Kompany Robben Sturridge Mata Herrera Rabiot All players who are free agents summer. Most of them would start for arsenal or be on the bench for tomorrow’s game if we had them I’d take kompany in a heartbeat on a years contract. The guy is a monster. A true leader and a winner. If we are talking about adding that winning mentality then why not? Replace ozil with mata Replace Elneny with Herrera Robben would surely achieve more at 35 than Mkhitaryan is for us right now?? If we are as cash strapped as… Read more »

Nelson

Wenger also supports Vieira. That could have influence on those Wenger faithful.

Nelson

I want Rabiot

Un Na naai

Emery has hardly screwed up, that’s very far fetched. The players have screwed up as the squad is woefully inadequate. Benny Beacuse nothing is Emery’s fault right? Why even have him there? Maybe we should just get an arsenal app and let the fans choose the line up before games? I mean emery’s tactics and selections are so spot on perfect that only the players can be responsible for any negative performances. How has this man not won it all every where he’s gone?No players in the world seem capable of carrying out his faultless instructions. Even at PSG. The… Read more »

Un Na naai

Oh. On corners make sure you run away from goal giving all of their attackers free reign for a tap in. Hopefully one will be offside…..fingers crossed…..

#tactics

Un Na naai

We want to play in the Champions League but also we know our process needs to be with patience because there are another five very strong teams with very good players and very big performances. “The Premier League is the most difficult championship in all the world. There is not another country with this difficulty to take the top four places and play in the Champions League. Maybe now in Spain, they have something similar – Valencia are struggling for the top four also. But here the biggest teams in the world play in one championship.” Guess that quote Arsene… Read more »

Nelson

We need to find someone like Mane, who is mobile, fast, can beat players one on one, good goal scorer and has a heart to perform away from home.

Charlie George

Just read Emerys farcical press conference online. Weekly Gibberish or Jibberish. – we all agree..? Very reminiscent of Moyes at the back end of his ill fated Man Utd reign. Demanding more time.*** Platitiudal nonsense about striving to be ‘biggest club in the world.’ Typical tell tale signs of a desperate coach. I wonder what he and his ubiquitous clipboard are concocting up today in the form of tactics? 442 4231 3331 1234 55 91 5231 Or another Unai special? One thing is for certain he can’t keep a clean sheet away from home( unless a red card occurs) Buy… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

Banford

We don’t have the players to achieve a good return away from home?

Care to explain why we’re 9th in the away form league behind Watford, Leicester, and Palace?

All of whom I’m sure must possess superior players than Emery has at his disposal. It’s tactical, this bogus deferring to the players is 100% a ploy to duck Emery’s accountability.

TR7

Unai on the summer transfer window: “There could be a lot of movement in terms of signings and departures or there could be a little, but first of all I believe there is a good base for the team already here.”

Very very Wengerish. Seems like he is not too sure as to how much will he get to spend.

Charlie George

I am finding the more intellectual,erudite and articulate posters -anti Emery and the more the prosaic ,coarse and illiterate posters – pro Emery( within a few exceptions) .

(An interesting bi-product on the Emery debate ,indeed. I reckon.)

Marc

benny “I think we should start again because Vieira is a club legend and ex captain who knows us through and through and would surely unite the fanbase” Firstly I’d have no issue with Vieira becoming Arsenal manager some time in the future when he has built up a CV that deserves it – but it has to be when he is ready. This “knows the club inside out / is a club legend” is bollocks. Shearer is a legend at Newcastle – took them down, OGS knows ManU inside out and has united the fanbase – gone off a… Read more »

Paulinho

I wonder what went wrong with Wenger’s team when we only accrued 22 points away from home in 2000/01, and what he did tactically to change it the next season.

Paulinho

Could’ve been 99/00 actually.

SpainishDave

CG
So right.
Emery has finally discovered what level is needed to get into the CL in the Premiership.
It’s only talked 35 games for the penny to drop.
So much for clipboards and power point.
Sound bites from a desperate manager.

Charlie George

Muchas gracias mi amigo, Dave

Champagne Charlie

Paulinho

I wonder why Wenger in 2001 is relevant to Emery in 2019…

I’m sure end of season the scrutiny would have fallen on the away form, and with money in the bank (aka previous success at Arsenal) Wenger would’ve sought to rectify.

But of course it’s wrong to do that with Emery when it’s much more appropriate to adopt a blame culture approach and offer excuse after excuse absolving him of his role as a coach.

Paulinho

Charlie – You’re saying it must be tactical because at home we’re good and a few teams below us have better away records. I would hazard a guess the same thing happened in 99/00, so it must been purely tactical back then using your reasoning. What did Wenger change tactically the next season? Any ideas? You said money in the bank, which suggests personnel changes more than tactical?

Champagne Charlie

Paulinho No you’ve not followed very well. I said money in the bank aka previous success with Arsenal would’ve given everyone more faith in the following season. I also said I’m sure the seasons scrutiny would’ve fallen on Wenger that campaign away from home, and I very much doubt the same lot citing ‘we don’t have the players’ would offer that up as reason then. What do you think? Out of curiosity Paulinho, aside from the 3 pats on the back and how ever many gold stars you’re keen to dish out to Emery this season, is there any areas… Read more »

Words on a Blog

A few “anti-intellectual” factoids for the benefit of CG and other vociferous Emery detractors. In his first full season at Spurs, 2014/15, “top 3 world class manager” Poch led Spurs to 5th place, amassing a grand total of 64 points (one less than we are on now, with 3 games to go). In his first season at Liverpool (started in October), 2015/16, the charismatic, eloquent, and shiny-teethed Klopp, led Liverpool to 8th place, with a points total of 60. With 3 matches to go, Emery has managed to get us to accrue 65 points, despite: 1) his pretty dismal away… Read more »

Marc

“I’m sure end of season the scrutiny would have fallen on the away form, and with money in the bank (aka previous success at Arsenal) Wenger would’ve sought to rectify. ”

Really then why did we go so many seasons without a proper DM? Why do we have a squad without a single wide player in it? Why were we the only club in the top 5 divisions in Europe who didn’t sign a single outfield player in the summer of 2015?

Wenger rectify a squad issue – joke.

Paulinho

Charlie -But you haven’t explained the poor away return. Using your own reasoning, it was purely tactical, yet Wenger philosophy/system remained constant during that period which strongly suggests it was personnel changes and issues with players already at the club. So the idea that it’s 100% Emery’s tactics, and not personnel issues and other squad nuances,is complete bollocks.

Jamie

There is no excuse for Emery’s away record this season. It’s abysmal. The question should be whether he’s the guy to improve our away performances next season with tactical and personnel changes, or if there’s some underlying issue with the way he sets up his teams away from home he can’t/won’t identify and correct. If he gets us into the CL next season, I suspect the board will back him with a decent chunk of change and allow him to cannibalise the squad and replace some of the dross with quality. If he doesn’t get CL, he shouldn’t be given… Read more »

Charlie George

CG

“”””I am finding the more intellectual,erudite and articulate posters -anti Emery and the more the prosaic ,coarse and illiterate posters – pro Emery( within a few exceptions) .”””

WOAB- you were definitely one of the exceptions- a wonderful wholesome rebuttal.

I Would not want to see you in court – as the opposite barrister.

Champagne Charlie

Woab Not true. Klopp first season he finished 4th with 76 points. Also Poch took over Spurs (ya know, the shit London club), after being manager at Saints and Espanyol. He was taking a step up in his career, which isn’t what you’d say Emery has done having previously managed Valencia and PSG of the last two years. We didn’t hire a slow burn Nagelsmann type, we hired a right now guy fresh off managing one of the best clubs in Europe. Same way I’d have greater expectations of Aubameyang than I would Nketiah. @paulinho It would’ve been tactical, because… Read more »

Charlie George

Right – I have bought some West Ham goals- I am now off out.

Words on a Blog

Champagne,

Actually, true – google it.

Klopp finished his first season in 2015/16 in 8th place; in his second season, Liverpool came 4th with 76 points.

Paulinho

Charlie – Ha ha, you say it would’ve been tactical yet have nothing beyond that. If tactics are so important, you should at least be to elaborate on what Wenger did the following season to rectify such a glaring issue.

Paulinho

If It was the 99/00 season I would be referring to the mini squad overhaul that saw the fading Overmars and Petit leave for Barca, replaced by Pires,Ljungberg, and Henry replaced Anelka. Replacing quality with quality,and leading to better away record the next season.

Let’s see if Emery has the ability or is allowed to regenerate the squad in a similar capacity.

Samesong

Anderson > Mkhi

Marc

Words

This constant lying / twisting the facts is pissing me off beyond belief. You watch the come back be “ah well he didn’t join until October that season so he can’t be blamed.” utter bollocks.

It’s the same with measuring Emery having had one summer TW against the Poch in his 5th season.

Champagne Charlie

Paulinho No I don’t have to delve into the tactics of 2001 on your assertion you melt. Wengers tactics last season for instance were shocking, we were exposed time and again away from home with a defensive shape that was absolutely non-existent. There’s been little change to that this year under Emery but here you are talking about a Wenger season from 2001 and think you’ve hit a home run in a debate. State of it. Still waiting for where Emery needs to improve in performance. @Woab Or you can google it? Klopp joined in November the season you’re referring… Read more »

Paulinho

Charlie – It’s not an assertion. You’re the one making a flawed assertion that is it getting the dressing down it deserves.

Samesong

I fancy a 1-0 result to the hammers. Anderson to score.

Words on a Blog

Champagne, In the end, who knows whether Emery is or isn’t “flawed”? He’s certainly made a lot of mistakes, and arguably quite a few of them were avoidable. All some of us are saying is, given the circumstances he has faced in the club, in terms of players available to him, the (lack of) financial backing in the Jan, the managerial shenanigans and departures, he’s done well enough all things considered. If he gets us top4 and/or Europa, great. But If he doesn’t, I suspect he’ll still be around to adjust the squad to be more to his liking, as… Read more »

Samesong

As I mentioned before there is tactical and mental at play.

Players have this lacksidal when they play away games. And when your not winning away games. That will play on their minds. One mistake opens up a host of errors.

Champagne Charlie

Paulinho

You think highly of yourself on here, always talk of dressing down others views and schooling this guy or that guy.

It’d be amusing if it didn’t come from someone utterly besotted with Aaron’s Ramsey.

You’ve offered nothing that debunks my view our away form is down to management. Nothing. Pointing to a season where Wenger failed to establish an away record is offering nothing of a defence, because my view is consistent to that season too.

Champagne Charlie

Woab

I’m not disputing that, but I won’t sit idly by and pretend there’s not cause for criticism because of some extenuating circumstances.

You’re free to disagree with that premise, but others on here trying to diminish those criticisms can kindly swivel.

Marc

CC

You’re still lying. Klopp joined in October 2015, his first match in charge was against the Spud’s on 17th October. That was the ninth match of the season so he missed about a fifth of the season not half.

Stop digging.

Paulinho

Charlie – I’ve offered plenty, and you’ve offered zilch, apart from desperately trying to change the subject.

Funny how you have a consistent view of a season you claim is irrelevant and seemingly have no recollection of.

Words on a Blog

Charlie -“ half a season” for Klopp?

Whatever.

His first match was against Apurs on October 15, 2015. That was Liverpool’s 9th match of the season.

Words on a Blog

Marc,

Truth? facts?

Don’t bother.

Champagne Charlie is dismissive of anyone who is part of the reality based community.

S Asoa

List of most fouled against team. Please note that City and Liverpool are less fouled because they move the ball accurately and fast giving no chance of the opponent getting at them. This factor is an eye opener. Most fouled teams this season (per game) Arsenal – 12 Bournemouth – 11.7 Chelsea – 11.3 Everton – 11.2 Man Utd – 10.6 West Ham – 10.4 Cardiff – 10.3 Watford – 10.2 Crystal Palace – 10.2 Leicester – 9.9 Huddersfield – 9.9 Burnley – 9.7 Spurs – 9.5 Southampton – 9.3 Fulham – 9.1 Newcastle – 9 Liverpool – 8.9 Wolves… Read more »

Paulinho

Charlie – And I really don’t know why you keep bringing Ramsey’s name into the discussion when he is another example of your supreme ignorance on football-related matters.

Marc

Words

I’d love to see the reaction of CC if someone was to make a claim about Emery that wasn’t true – Arsenal have best defensive record at corners etc.

Champagne Charlie

Marc There’s no digging, the comparison is weak because Klopp didn’t have a pre-season, didn’t buy a player, and joined a quarter of the campaign in. Excuse me, October, instead of November. @paulinho You’ve done no such thing, you merely consider yourself an intellectual Titan and that’s where it begins and ends. You never answer anything asked of you, and you invent an idea you aim to sell as evidence of your superior strategy. You haven’t answered why we can have a stellar home record yet shoddy away one, same players. You haven’t answered why Palace, Leicester, and Watford can… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

Woab

Actually facts and context matter a great deal, it’s you that left those out with your biased managerial comparison.

I included the context, albeit lazily, and now you’re intent on scrutinising that than addressing the fact your comparison was bogus to begin with.

Paulinho

“You haven’t answered why we can have a stellar home record yet shoddy away one, same players. You haven’t answered why Palace, Leicester, and Watford can better our away record with inferior players.”

Yes, and back in 2000 we finished 2nd with 22 points away from, so there would’ve been teams that had inferior players yet had a better away record.

How do you explain that? Oh yes, 100% tactical, yet can’t explain the actual tactics and how they differed from the previous year or after (probably because they were the same as season before and after).

Marc

CC

Fucking hell you can’t stop it can you. 8 matches is 21%, I said about a fifth of the season and you have to try to move it to a qtr. I think you have an issue.

The only people who don’t’ accept his first season was 2015 / 16 are people trying to argue against Emery’s stat after 50 matches.

bennydevito

Fact of the matter is in his first season in charge Klopp led Liverpool to 8th.

In his first “full” season in charge Klopp led Liverpool to 4th.

These are indisputable untwistable facts.

bennydevito

Un nai,

Nowhere have I said Emery isn’t at fault for anything. What I simply said was saying he screwed up like everything is exclusively his fault alone is far fetched.

Marc

Arsenal away record last season and this.

Different managers – similar performance

Mostly same squad – similar performance.

It might have something to do with the players.

Paulinho

It’s obvious there are numerous factors for our away record (players with poor mentality being one) yet, you are 100% it’s purely tactical, using the laughably flawed reasoning that players in teams below us are not as good as ours.

Words on a Blog

Champagne, Of course you are free and right to make criticisms of Emery’s tactics, etc. The thing is, I do understand the Pedro’s desire, and the desire of some posters on here including you, that a “sexier” appointment had been put in place, with a view to fundamentally modernising and changing the footballing ethos of the club over the long term. But the club decided not to go for a Nagelsmann/Arteta/Special Saucer, to work wonders over the long term and went for “safe pair of hands” Emery to restore us back to Top 4 over the short and medium term.… Read more »

Marc

benny

No one would argue with what you said about Klopp. It’s CC trying to play hard and fast with the truth.

Marc

Words

Exactly my thoughts on the Emery appointment.

Valentin

Actually Arsenal also had the best defensive record at corner and second best overall on set pieces last season. That was the only thing that Wenger let Steve Bould work on.

Until Crystal Palace, we have used the same system than previously. That new system selected by Emery for those two games has resulted in more goals conceded on corners than during the rest of the season.

Knowing that, I would not use that stats as a good point by Emery.

Radio Raheem

Our poor away record predates Emery like our brittleness against other top six sides. We’ve improved against the bigger sides, the next challenge is to improve away from home. No one can say for certain why we’re so poor from home. But seeing the improvement Emery has made against top sides this season I think he’s better placed than anyone else to get it sorted. He should get the time to sort it as I’m sure he will. If hasn’t sorted it by end of next season he’ll be off. But I’m sure we’ll be in a better position than… Read more »

Marc

Valentin

You do have to ask if it’s working why change it?

Marc

Fucking hell if West Ham could shoot they’d be in front.

Paulinho

All set up for another classic Spurs 1-0 job.

Marc

Paulinho

Don’t even say it.

Valentin

Emery was not appointed to be a transitional manager: a safe pair of hand until somebody sexier could be found. He was selected on the basis that he could work and bring success within the given financial constraints but also club constraints (style of play, use of academy players, …). The big question is what is the board definition of success and is he achieving it. Reach top 4, win the Europa League, play football that does not alienate half the fans. The second question is could we find somebody else willing to work within those same constraints and get… Read more »

Paulinho

Ha ha,what a goal!

Marc

Fucking get in West Ham

Mark

@BennyD ” can’t actually put into words how bad it was.The chants of “Champions league, you’re having a laugh, Champions league, you’re having a laugh!” are still ringing in my ears and will haunt me forever.” I’m still catching up on posts , but wanted to reply to the above on the previous blog. I feel for you Bro! I work with a lady in her late 50’s , loves her football EPL,Champs L EUR L the lot,Chelsea supporter unfortunately but she’s alright. She says she feels for me cos most arsenal fans were deluded , cos how they couldn’t… Read more »

Nelson

WH scores.

bnsb

Ha ha

Marc

Valentin

So who would you go for?

Paulinho

Eriksson and Son have summoned to the edge of the box for operation shoot on sight.

Samesong

I celebrated that goal lol

Champagne Charlie

Paulinho Down the rabbit hole you go, “100% purely tactical” is something I’ve not stated. I’m well aware there’s numerous facets to explaining something like away form, I’m of the opinion the managers role in formulating an approach and getting it right tactically for the respective away venues is the primary contributor to a teams success. It’s not a controversial one, you’re just having a hard time with it because it asks questions of your new lord and saviour. The same guy you’ve continually ducked questions of accountability on. @Marc Yea mate, let’s castrate someone for lazily dismissing a 4%… Read more »

Paulinho

“All of whom I’m sure must possess superior players than Emery has at his disposal. It’s tactical, this bogus deferring to the players is 100% a ploy to duck Emery’s accountability”

Paulinho

Primary 99.99% I take it.

Dissenter

West ham were the first to beat us at the Emirates.

Jamie

Poch catsup.

Marc

CC

He didn’t take over after 9 games he took charge of the 9th.

You really can’t help it can you?

Leftsidesanch

I cheered that goal with my youngster. Hopefully they can keep it.

Champagne Charlie

Marc
Your war on semantics is embarrassing. Way to totally ignore the point once again because someone on ‘the other team’ makes a comment. No wonder Un naai has you on toast so often.

Paulinho
Yea, you’d assert as such, but that’s just you doing your usual.

Marc

Has me on toast – oh dear what a clown

jasongms

Come on West ham

Samesong

Lads lads lads……

Dissenter

Un na cannot be happy that Spuds are losing.
He won’t get to wave those pompoms today.

Leftsidesanch

West Ham should have put this game to bed with these opportunities

Samesong

West Ham have played very well today.

Dissenter

I was talking about this lad, Issa Diop. Magnificent athlete who will only get better.

Paulinho

Look at their team on paper, no way any worse than ours.

Paulinho

What is Spurs philosophy right now? Lump it up front it seems.

Marc

CC Not having a pre season will of course have an effect on a new manager’s ability to get to know the players / impress his ideas on the team so they are going to be learning on the job so to speak. As for a summer transfer window well Liverpool did sign Milner and Firmino that summer and I’m not sure how much input Emery had into our summer business. Interestingly if you pro rata out the points tally for Liverpool that season they picked up 12 points over 8 matches including a couple of tough fixtures which is… Read more »

Marc

West Ham clear off the line with practically the last kick of the match!

jasongms

Fuck off spurs

Leftsidesanch

What a clearance, thought Spurs were going to be jammy as usual.

Great start to the weekend, until those wankers ruin it tomorrow.