Unai Emery is very keen to get his Arsenal players working to his high pressure attacking game plan, and he has no qualms about telling his opponents his tactics before every game. So yet again he has explained how he expects his team to perform against Cardiff. When asked about how his training was progressing, he told Arsenal.com: “It’s a lot [to take in] but it’s usually the things we need because we’ve only played three games,” he said. “The pre-season is important but we didn’t have every player. After, we need to know the combinations with the players.
“We want to do the high pressing against the opposition. Then after this game I analysed it with the players. We started the match well but then we lost the control for moments in the game. Then we finished the last 20 minutes really well.
“I am very, very happy firstly with the three points but then also how the team worked to win this match and how we finished the last few minutes. I want to continue that in the next match this Sunday against Cardiff, a different game, but just to continue our momentum.”
We did end up attacking well at the end against the Hammers, but we could so easily have conceded many more goals too. As Paul Merson said: “I watch Arsenal play and I seriously think it’s a charity match,”
“It’s so open, end to end, there’s no tackling and it’s like watching ex-professionals playing.
“I’ve not seen anything like it, the West Ham game was just unreal.”
We have already conceded six goals in our first three games, and it is obvious that our defensive game has not improved in the slightest so far. So can we expect high scoring affairs every single week while Emery keeps pushing for more goals rather than to defend?
Darren N
I like the high score in the West Ham game
I watch football to be entertained, not to watch boring 1-0 game that is won by using an ultra-defensive strategy
The pressing part has to be improved though, because the defense will suffer if the attackers don’t want to press harder
Our team is sometimes so lethargic on the field I just don’t get it.This even happens during the early stages of the game.The don’t move the ball quickly when in possession nor do they show any desire to win it back without possession.You will then see a slight change in character after we are a goal down and then if were lucky and the opposing team don’t score due to abysmal defending they finally go for the win.This is what Emery must correct in the team; mentality.
Better sides than West Ham would have scored Six against us last week.We are just far to open when we go forward with no cover defensively when both Bellerin AND Monreal go at the same time.Take the first goal.Made by Bellerin from the touch line and scored by Monreal from 8 yards out.Its great when we score like this but who was so
Itting in for them with cover?Xhaka has no pace and little defensive nous ( although he does seem to have improved under Emery) But he is NOT a CDM.Torreira MUST start if we continue with this high press.He is a natural CDM and that is what we bought him for after crying out for one foe over a decade.
We have the players who can create and score of that there is no doubt.We have defenders who seem to be struggling with the high press game when they are continually left exposed.This is down to the tactics.Im just not convinced we are suited to this style with the players we have
On what basis has Xhaka improved under Emery?He is the same under Emery and Wenger never destroyed him.Wenger only exposed his defensive inability.Xhaka is not good enough to be our DLP.Do you think if we played Xhaka and Torrreira we can rely on Xhaka to drive our team through midfield?His attacking inefficiencies are just too many and he will be caught in possession time and time again in a match where he’s being pressed.Guendouzi is just a more mobile and talented Xhaka so he should rather start over him.
Xhaka was missed as soon as he left the field against Chelsea.Although he made mistakes he kept a shape that wasn’t always apparent under Wenger.Against West Ham he was better in the first half and improved even more when Lacazette came on and even more so when Torreira was introduced.
Believe me I am not a fan of Xhaka but in my mind he has shown signs of improvement under Emery that were not the case when Wenger was still here.
In regards Guadounzi I would add the boy looks a real talent and one for the future.But he should not be in the team in front of Torreira and Xhaka at this time.He brings energy and enthusiasm to a midfield that has been lacking for years.He also makes fat too many mistakes that will cost us against any Premiership side.He would learn more coming on gradually.This kid is NOT helping us with these mistakes
Well in my mid he’s still the same player under Emery.The only difference is that Emery has not used him as a DM allowing him to operate in his favoured position thus reducing defensive errors.But the overall quality has remained constant.Xhaka is not good enough to me to be the attacking member in a midfield two.If that was the case then I’d rather we move Ramsey back to box to box to play with Torreira.Expecting Xhaka not to make mistakes or be world class or whatever is wishful and unrealistic thinking.Such a player in the team along with others typifies what Arsenal have become.
I’m only saying about the players we have.Emery seems to want two central midfielders and this is proved by the fact Xhaka and Guadounzi have started all three games.Torriera MUST come into the side NOW.I would not play Ramsey as he can’t be arsed to sign a contract so he should sit on his arse on the bench.Two central midfielders with Ozil in front of them and Mikki and Auba either side of Lacazette.Other than a goalkeeper who can’t play from the back and a back four that can’t defend that team should be good enough to win tomorrow’s game easily if the effort desire and commitment are there from the first whistle
We are a work in progress so I believe after Enemy’s eyes are fully open about some of the players in our team he will make the right decision.Its just a matter of time before some are sold.
” After crying out for one for over a decade.” This vital truth should be emblazoned on every heart of every Gooner who has watched Arsenal for the last decade. Esp those blind folk who longed for “defensive coaching genius Wenger ” to keep his job! I still rejoice every morning when I wake and realise he is out of our hair. If only it had happened a decade earlier, we would not be in the defensive mess we are right now , with Wengers “world class defenders” like Mustafi and Bellerin still stumbling around like drunken men when faced with fast and mobile opponents. Until these two ludicrous shams of defenders are out of our team and also our club, we will continue to struggle in defence. So in answer to the articles question , yes, we WILL continue to have high scoring matches; at least while those two joke defenders are in the team.
JF-I was always confused as to why Lassana Diara was allowed to leave the Club after only being with us a short time.I know he was mainly used as a full back at Chelsea but he was a CDM that we were crying out for even back then.I remember being at a League Cup tie midweek away at Blackburn that we won and playing as a CDM he was head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch.I believe Dennilson was playing in the first team at the time and look how that turned out.Why Wenger never played Diara and then let him go so soon after we bought him will always be another mystery of Wengers mindset when it came to the defensive side of the team.
Phil and jon, Arsenal now has the DM we called out for since Gilberto Silva left. I agree with Phil that Xhaka is performing better now that he is not expected to play as a DM. I expect him to play better when teamed with Torreira, as Xhaka is able to play further up the pitch and adds height and physicality to Arsenal’s mid field.
In addition Lichtsteiner should be selected as RB, as he will provide leadership and defensive discipline across the whole back 4. He is an experienced no nonsense, serial winner and I can’t understand why he doesn’t start in front of Bellerin. How many goals will Arsenal ship before changes are made?
Emery is simply working with what we have.
an unbalanced squad that cannot defend and is more attacking.
better we attack.we score more than you.
we might win alot of away games we never won last season.
makes me wonder why Sokratis was our only CB signing. It seems that signing was forced on Emery considering the rumors about him coming were well in motion before we even appointed a manager. Next 2 windows Arsenal must prioritize a true experienced CB. And pay whatever the asking price.
I am co0nvinced that Sokratis was not Emerys choice. It was arranged prior to him coming I think. He is playing more like a Wenger defensive signing; badly!
Yes the game needs more goals
and more entertainment.
I have been postulating for
some time now that there should
be less players on the field.
I believe 9 is the right number.
Play 4 X 15 minute quarters.
Allow 7 subs to rotate like basketball
stopping the clock when the ball is not in play.
Football is football.
Basketball is slamming and donkeying game.
Different rules applied.
Please don’t ever bring this up again. Football is great the way it is, a difficult game, if you don’t like it watch American sports.
Top 8 teams should play some
games in the USA and Asia.
Also in January top 8 teams
should only play 2 PL matches in places like Australia.
To accommodate this winter break these same
8 teams should not enter the FA CUP until the 5th round.
So when talk of a winter break is now being seriously considered you would have us flying all round the world for WHAT EXACTLY?
money. Which a top team needs if they want to compete with the rest of their rivals. It’s just a sad reality.
Oh Great ! And perhaps all players could wear wellingtons and a fur coat too! Grow up!
Oh perfect..i don’t know why you guys are still complaining…..Emery told you guys right from the beginning that he prefers to win 4-3 than to win 1-0……so I guess that’s the mentality that he has… So even if we get better defenders I still don’t know if we will stop conceding……..Emery is no Diego simeone that prioritises defending…Emery only wants an organized pressing attacking football…he doesn’t really care about hardened defending… If clean sheets come he would take it but if it doesn’t come with a win then he would still happily take it…. Once again our great coach Emery prefers to win 4-3 than to win 1-0
Anyway still your sweet CHIZA?????
I expect we’re gonna give good chances up to almost everyone we play, more so than usual. The space between our defenders and attacking players when playing out from back, is huge, one interception and they have a run at our defenders who’re both out of position on the flanks. When pressing its a similar story, not that I’ve noticed very much good pressing. The attacking players go high up, but one or two always seem more keener than the other few, if they beat that then the space out wide can kill us. We don’t play tight enough, defenders midfield attack all seem to be playing by there own rules. We’re not a unit, far from it. Merson’s right they aren’t tackling enough, it seems like their trying to position themselves more so for interceptions. He also mentioned something about the large gaps between areas which is hard to miss at times.
All I know is that more Stars make the sky brighter Arsenal has four Auba,Laca, Ozil and Miki we yet to see them play together and the coach at least owe us that