WHEN Arsene Wenger left Arsenal, it was hoped his departure would make the start of a new era of harmony among the Gunners’ fanbase.
The “in/out” debate over Wenger had become utterly consuming, dividing the supporters and creating a fractious atmosphere both in the stands and online. Many believed that if Arsenal removed Wenger, they might well remove the problem.
Perhaps Wenger wasn’t the only issue. Recent weeks have seen increasingly fraught debate over the new head coach, Unai Emery, and the direction of the club in general. Old divisions are resurfacing as the club’s support begins to once again feel fractious and fractured. In truth, the kind of utopic football fandom some hoped more was always unlikely to prove unsustainable. Football fans are not renowned for their patience and understanding.
Comparison: Arsene Wenger | Unai Emery after 25 Premier League games. #afc pic.twitter.com/33kWfBsHXu
— TheAFCnewsroom (@TheAFCnewsroom) February 4, 2019
There was a period of respite. Arsenal did seem to have something of a ‘new manager’ bounce under Emery. Back in the Autumn they won 11 games on the spin and were unbeaten for 22 matches. Even if the performances were not always convincing, Emery’s presence brought a freshness to proceedings, and players and fans alike seemed invigorated by the change.
However, it’s safe to say that Emery’s ‘honeymoon period’ is now over. Since mid-December, Arsenal have suffered six defeats in 12 games. They’ve faced some strong opponents in that period, including fixtures against each of the other five members of the ‘big six’. However, the biggest worry has been the exposure of Arsenal’s defensive weakness. The priority for Wenger’s successor surely had to be shoring up a porous back-line, and Emery has not managed to do that.
There’s also concern over a lack of a coherent footballing identity. At his unveiling, Emery spoke of wanting to build a team who were “protagonists” on the field, and underlined the importance of “pressing”. Those ideas excited the Arsenal fans, and they’ve since become an albatross around Emery’s neck. Arsenal have not delivered against his stated ideals, and he has become vulnerable to criticism.
❌ Isco
❌ Coutinho
❌ Ozil
❌ JamesAre the days of the creative number 10 over? | @dermotmcorrigan https://t.co/NDKaPjCHsW
— Unibet (@unibet) February 2, 2019
His decision to ostracise Mesut Ozil is certainly one that’s attracted criticism. Ozil has probably replaced Wenger as the focal point of ferocious debate. It’s a situation so toxic that, much as with Wenger, the best solution is almost certainly a parting of the ways.
While there are many reasonable fans with reasonable concerns over Emery’s performance. However, the tension is exacerbated by those with more extreme views. Wenger’s most vehement defenders have seemingly become so entrenched in their position that they’re unwilling to embrace the new man. Equally, there are those on the other side of the debate who longed for change so much that they don’t acknowledge the deficiencies in the team which are staring them in the face.
There have been positive changes since Emery’s arrival. With the notable exception of their hammering at Liverpool, Arsenal have largely been more competitive in fixtures against the big sides than they were in any of Wenger’s final years. Even in the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City that has prompted such interrogation and infighting, they produced a pretty accomplished first half performance.
One of Emery’s strength is individual player development, and it’s fair to say a decent chunk of Arsenal’s squad have improved on his watch. The progression of Hector Bellerin, Sead Kolasinac, Rob Holding and Alex Iwobi appeared to stall under Wenger, but Emery has overseen their careers taking an upward turn in trajectory.
Alex Iwobi is 22, and he's 4th in the Premier League in ball progression with just under 0.5 goals and assists per 90.
Lots of other things at Arsenal have gone wrong, but if you want know how they dumped Ozil and their attack remained fine — here's why.
— Michael Caley (@MC_of_A) February 7, 2019
He’s also embraced youth, granting game-time to the likes of Matteo Guendouzi and being prepared to pick Holding over more senior centre-halves prior to his injury. Notably, it’s the younger players in the squad who’ve most obviously bought into Emery’s methods, and subsequently reaped the benefits.
It’s undeniable that he’s run into some issues in the last few weeks, but there are mitigating circumstances. The defensive problems haven’t been helped by the loss of both Holding and Bellerin to season-ending injuries. Aside from that, he hasn’t received any great support in the transfer market, with the club refusing to sanction any permanent deals in January. Perhaps supporters would be wiser to aim their ire at an ownership who refuse to invest.
What Emery needs more than anything else is time. The unbeaten run perhaps skewed people’s perceptions of the scale of the job at hand. Ultimately, he’s only halfway through a first season that was always likely to be one of transition rather than immediate transformation. Emery may not have done enough to win everyone’s trust yet, but it’s difficult to see how he’s got enough wrong to lose anyone’s faith.
The refractory rows that envelop the club are not a problem specific to Arsenal. On the other side of London, Chelsea fans are engined in an “in/out” hokey-cokey of their own over Maurizio Sarri. This is culture, and this is football. However, Arsenal’s club motto is “victory through harmony”. That might be something worth bearing in mind as they attempt to cultivate an environment conducive to Emery’s success.
