In defence of Unai Emery

by .

via @Arsenal Instagram

IT IS CONTENT CRAZY OUT HERE.

I recorded a podcast with the exceptionally interesting football analyst/broadcaster/journalist Matt Scott. He’s a big fan of Unai Emery, so a real counterpoint to Le Grove, so hopefully you find the TWO-PART series an EXCELLENT LISTEN.

What have we today?

Big Dave O’Leary trying to barge his way onto the board of directors. Apparently Don Raul does not like this idea.

Hard to know what to think. Bringing footballers into the club can be a great thing, or it can be an absolute disaster. Zidane worked behind the scenes at Madrid before taking over the first team. That worked out. I’m not sure we can expect that from one of our most storied players, but what you would hope is that his love for the club carried through into the day-to-day.

I’m not sure Raul will ever love Arsenal or care for it in the way an explayer would. He’s Barca DNA and he always will be. What you have to hope is he’s a good steward of the club while he’s here.

David O’Leary did great things for a time at Leeds before the transfer strategy went nuts under Peter Risdale. I know through contacts that he deeply loves Arsenal and that he coveted the job at The Emirates for a long time. That was why he was so keen to show off against us, which came across a bit vicious.

Anyway, I have no idea how he thinks, but let’s be honest, the average age of our highly ineffective board could do with lowering and it could do with a bit of football behind it. The explayer route works very well at Bayern.

Arsene Wenger FINALLY landed the big job he’s wanted all his life, he took a post at FIFA. It is MENTAL to read his fanbase chalk this up as a success, anyone who understands a single thing about him will know all he coveted was a dugout job. Hey ho, at least he’s getting paid dollars and it’s great to know there’s at least one person at FIFA with values.

Right, short post today. Here’s the first of the two-part series. The other one is up if you want to listen to it straight after.

ENJOY LEAVE ME A 5* RATING PLEZ x

iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify

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Batistuta

Oh common! Did Bamford actually get binned again?

Batistuta

How does England beating a third rate team have anything to do with Arsenal by the way?

Graham62

CG

Scheisse!!

I agree with you CG.

I listened to Mr Scott on the radio several weeks back and can concur with your points.

He actually gets paid for making such mindblowingly ignorant statements.

Unbelievable.

What

Moe

Saw it coming…….soon as Bamford used the word “fraud” I suspected Pedro would be pissed. Everything else said is a pretext.

CG

Graham.

I cant have Mr. Scott try and pull the wool over my fellow Le Grove patients eyes.
I stand up for them.

Pierre

Bats
“How does England beating a third rate team have anything to do with Arsenal by the way?”

I think Graham is alluding to the freedom and style of football ,plus the pace and one and 2 touch football England play .

Distant legrover

Morning you good ebeners.

Mkhitarian saying how he felt restricted by Emery. He said he started as a winger often but his role is to help out the defensive midfielder. He says he prefers playing free, occupying the right spaces and stuff.

Can you imagine asking one of your main attacking guys to primarily help out the DM ? No wonder we are ugly to watch.

Distant legrover

It’s crazy that our 72 million star signing is obsolete at the moment because our Coach doesn’t know how to properly instill attacking players. Give Pepe to Klopp and we d be hearing his name all season long.

For those who may have forgotten already, Pepe was only behind Mbappe last year in goals, assists, performances. Now he looks like Eboue in Mr. Good ebening’s system.

I d sack him for this reason alone.

James wood

4 Days is not enough for worthless repetition.
Should have been 4 strikes and out from a poster
tied up in his own self importance.

As I have said to him before “less is more.”
And that he should stick to the collegiate
type football his mindset is built for.?

Left testicle

I don’t agree with most of what Bamford says but what’s happened to freedom of speech?

HighburyLegend

“Now he looks like Eboue in Mr. Good ebening’s system. ”

A bit harsh for Eboue…

China1

I do think this England team are more fun to watch than any we’ve seen for a couple of decades.

Frankly the thought of watching them and drinking cold lager sounds damn good. In particular because I had minor stomach surgery this week and I’ve spent the whole damn week eating bland shit through a straw. All the best things are banned. No alcohol, no coffee, no cheese, no bread, no meat. WHATS THE FUCKING POINT

I’m literally counting down the days (about 5 more) until I can eat and drink as normal

China1

I’m so starved of diversity and taste in my food and drinks now that I’m eyeing up the most average of shit like it’s the nicest thing ever

It’s like ima celebrity get me out of here where they just eat rations for 5 days then they get given a bar of chocolate and they’re practically crying

I want some French bread with some fucking Red Leicester up in that shit. God damn I’m hungry lol

Words on a Blog

China1,

Rib-eye pampas-fed Argentinan steak, medium rare, with bone-marrow gravy.

Chunky chips, triple fried.

Garlic mushrooms; creamed spinach with a hint of nutmeg.

Washed down with a bottle of Argentina’s Malbec, or if you prefer French, Chateaux mouton-Rothschild.

Sorry!

Emiratesstroller

I have spoken today with a sports journalist who follows Arsenal more closely than most. We are both agreed that Emery needs to go sooner rather than later. His view was that it should have been done during this International Break. My view is that it must be done no later than Xmas. On the topic of Managers his preferred replacement is Brendan Rodgers. My view is that this would be problematic, because this manager would be most probably unavailable before the summer and also Leicester might qualify for Champions League in which case he would probably not leave. My… Read more »

kristoman

Yeah bojangle
what did you expect from pedro
he banned a poster for being EKB. but racist and all k4nd of condecending guys allowed lee way here. You are right, it his blog but this says more about him than the rac4st themselves

MatinellisHead

WOB

Will you marry me??

Distant legrover

Emirates

This is why we should let Emery go now so whoever comes in can get the players they want. I don’t want Emery in charge when we get a new DM. Probably gonna tell the guy to play as goalkeeper.

MatinellisHead

kristoman

Dry your eyes old bean everything will be alright.

HighburyLegend

“Will you marry me??”

We will be witness.

Distant legrover

And why the hell did a club like Arsenal known for their defensive mishaps, buy a defender that’s known for defensive mishaps in David Luiz. We were linked with Soyuncu who looked really good and a proper defender in the compilations ( didn’t know or watched him before ) and then suddenly its freaking Luiz.

Now we are being linked with Soyuncu again. We sure love taking 3 steps back and 1 hop forward.

kristoman

yeah normski
everything will be alright.
i already know who you are, that i7 fine by me
but does pedro knows? Or just pretending not know?

MatinellisHead

kristoman

who is normski?!

You concentrate on you and your own feelings, we don’t getting upset and crying again do we?

Graham62

Distant

Too many sackable offences.

———————

ES

Xmas is too late .

He needs to go now.

Valentin

As mentioned before we got Sokratis instead of Söyünkü, because at the time Raul wanted to focus on experienced players than young players. Experienced players like Lichsteiner.

So when we went back for him, we could not afford him anymore and we could not guarantee a place in both Premiership and European squad due to Home grown rules. Remember that we had to drop Mavrapanos from the Europa League squad list when we hired Denis Suarez. All the indecision opened the door to Leicester.

Valentin

Stroller,

I am in agreement with that list.
The new CB needs to be left footed aggressive one with Saliba more measured.
I would double the number of DMs.
One who can act a disciplined screen and one who is a BB it more bite who can act as well as a box to box.

Bojangles

Good podcast Pedro. Matt Scott certainly knows FIFA and was interested in his take on Wenger.

I get the feeling however you may binned Bamford before he could comment on Matt’s views on Emery (although B did say he never listens to your podcasts.) He did seem to sort of confirm B’s views. Anyway, looking forward to part 2.

guest man aka WW

Saw David O’Leary in the directors box away at Leicester. He had a red tie and immaculate clothes. Looked the part.
After the game he looked shellshocked just shuffled away silently.. (we lost 3-0).
O leary is Mr Arsenal just as much as big Tone. I welcome his involvement.
Good luck to wenger…a sensible political position…and I don’t agree he should’ve been snapped up by a semi decent club. He clearly hasn’t the allure he once had or actually the performance stats in the last 5 years of his “reign”.
Perhaps F.I.F.A will now develop Mental strengthz.

sarge

Great podcast, good counterbalance to Pedro’s slightly less balanced views on Emery. Main point of contention for me is Matt Scott’s backing for what Emery is trying to achieve i.e. being happy to have the opposition come onto us and then playing through balls on the counter-attack. I just don’t think we ought to be setting up as a counter-attacking side, particularly at the Emirates. Best argument I think is to have this as an option when we play away at big 6 rivals.

DigitalBob

Agree with just about all of that stroller + valentin, although I’m still not convinced Vieira is the man from the invincible’s team to lead us into the new era.

LT – If we get a double our money offer I expect he’s sold, Jan or in the summer. Xhaka is most definitely in his final season as and Arsenal player. Ceballos if the price is right I would keep.

Micheal

I agree with ES’s general points, particularly the belief that if Emery’s days are finished, he should be removed immediately. Waiting until after Christmas might be too late if we have serious ambitions of Top 4. Also the lack of a top quality defensive midfielder has been a common problem at Arsenal since the sale of Gilberto Silva. While a “new Gilberto” would not solve all the obvious problems in central defence, it would provide the important shield which is missing from the play of people like Song, Xkaka, etc. I believe it would make a big difference to the… Read more »

HillWood

According to talk-sport earlier this week Xhaka is house hunting in Milan

Distant legrover

Digitalbob

The idea of Vieira as our next coach is a good one because I think he’s a leader and he has the right mentality and of course an Arsenal legend. Pretty much the opposite of Emery.

But the concern is, is he good enough? Can he out-tactics a Klopp for example. Also does he have an attacking philosophy?

Graham62

If Emery stays, there is no way Auba or Lacazette will stay at the club.

Would you in their shoes?

KAY Boss

Viera imo, isn’t ready for the arsenal job. I’m still unconvinced. I maybe wrong but I feel people are being moved by sentiments.
Pedro, I disagree with your binning of Bamford. He may have a differing view but I feel u harbouring some deficiencies you find difficult to cope with. (ie. accepting that your opinion differs according to one’s interpretation.) Ooops! Your blog though.

Tenerife Gooner,

Talking of the International break.What was the England score last night.

DigitalBob

Distant – I agree he was an inspirational leader for us but when it comes to footballing style and as you mentioned tactical flexibility, I think he (at the moment) comes up a little short.

Still a better shout than Emery though!

Distant legrover

Digital

No disagreement from me there. At this rate, my grandma is a better fit for Arsenal than Emery.

Chika

Viera as Arsenal’s coach does not appeal to me in anyway. He seems to be neither here nor there, he doesn’t look like a visionary and he doesn’t appear astute enough.

Gentlebris

‘Anyway, it’s your blog, your house, just seems a shame to see it descend into a bit of a toilet.’ Of course it’s Pedro’s house and you have no right whatever your grievances are to call it a toilet. I wouldn’t tolerate xenophobic and racist remarks, but if a guy sprays some verbal attacks devoid of xenophobia or racism on another, I just expect the other guy to respond in greater measures, thereby blowing out some boredom out of here. If the discussions were deep and passionate, arguments would attend; if arguments were in attendance, verbal attacks would sneak in.… Read more »

Left testicle

eh?