There has hardly been two games in row this season when we have seen the same Arsenal starting XI (has there been any?) as the new boss has been tinkering with his different formations and personnel for each and every game. Now that it looks like the players have started to understand Emery’s instructions and are actually putting them into place, he has finally given his reasons for his continual changes.
Tomorrow night there will be another raft of changes, both to prepare for the challenge of Rennes and also to keep some players fresh for the big match against Man United on Sunday. Emery seems to have got the balance right at the moment and he has explained his reasoning. “Each match is different,” he told Arsenal.com. “We are playing with a back four and also with three centre backs sometimes, and I think the team is improving and is learning to play different systems. But with the same ideas.
“It’s not the same to play with one player or another player, because maybe he has bigger qualities or better qualities more like a winger or like a full back or like a right back.
“For example, it’s different to play with Nacho Monreal or Sead Kolasinac. They are two very big and important players for us with their qualities. But one is more offensive than the other. Nacho is more defensive with a big performance defensively, more than Sead.
“But we need to use two players and sometimes with three or four at the back. Above all, to improve and grow up like a player, improving tactical issues and we are doing that. The reason why we are making changes to the system is adaptation to the opposition and also in our best combinations with the players.”
We have already discussed the changes I’m expecting Emery to make for the Rennes match, but we have to say that whoever plays they are definitely learning to play the Emery Way. It seems a lot of players are interchangeable at the moment.
He is definitely doing something right, and we hope he does it again tomorrow…
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