Campbell urges Emery to spring an Arsenal surprise by Iomie Stanley
Arsenal legend Sol Campbell has told Unai Emery to spring a surprise at the club ahead of next weeks opening fixture against Manchester City.
The Spaniard has been a busy man since his arrival at the Emirates and has done quite a lot of business for the amount of money he was supposedly getting this transfer window.
As we all know, the hierarchy did not want to splash the cash and spend silly money to land some world class players over the course of the last few months and instead told Emery he would have to fins some summer bargains if he wanted to put his own stamp on the side.
So he stepped up and landed Bernd Leno, Sokratis, Stephen Lichsteiner, Lucas Torreira and the very impressive Mateo Guendouzi, who has had a tremendous pre-season for the club, and now we look like a side that is more than capable of challenging Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham for a top four spot.
Add that to the fact Chelsea have signed one player in the form of Jorginho, while United have spent £50 million on Fred and Spurs simply have no money to even buy Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for £20 million, so we could surprise a few that have totally doubted Emery and his managerial ability.
Campbell said: “I’m sure there’s a lot of people briefing him saying ‘hey, this is a tough league and you’ve got to be ready for it’, I’m sure he is.
“I think for me getting in and around fourth and fifth spot, maybe trying to push in, because there’s a lot of competition.
“There’s a lot of teams as well that have proved, there’s Tottenham, there’s Liverpool, the two Manchester clubs.
“It’s tough to get into that top four, but hopefully he can surprise us with the spirt of the team, new players, fresh, eager to impress the new manager.
“So hopefully that will continue for the whole season.”
Last season was another one of those seasons under Arsene Wenger that we have become accustomed too, his stubbornness to change things and try something new as he believed his way was the right way.
But Emery will bring a proven track record of winning trophies, so I am expecting the club to challenge for the title, not just the Champions League spots. But I am wanting to believe we really can surprise our rivals, starrting with City and Chelsea..
Iomie
He could surprise his competitors if he has players that can split the opponent’s defense with through balls and runs/ dribbles
After watching Maitland-Niles and Nelson last night, I have a high hope in them to be those players. Because they still have the guts to take high risks and still have high stamina, due to their young age
The young players’ energy could be the key to win the first EPL match, because most Man City’s senior players just came back from their holidays
Gotanidea I think you are exactly right about our youth. If we want the top 4 or title even, it will have to come from developing our young talent.
Club has shown it will not buy world class player every window like City and Utd. Sure Auba and Laca are exceptions, but forget £130 million for Dembele, or the crazy £70million for VVD despite the need.
Emery seems excited to develop our young core which I find highly exciting.
unai is a hardworker and he is a tactician,a lot of pundits are underestimating him but they will be surprised
GUENDOUZI is our most important player by along way!!!
Elneny has to play with him bcoz they have the legs and the understanding!
Torreira has find away to compliment them both!
Xhaka is no longer needed!
Ramsey has to play further forward!
guys guys guys we still need pacy winger .
For me, the real battle will be in CM, protecting the backline while offering a stable platform for the attacking talent to shine, we all know that Arsenal has a juicy strikeforce.
For that reason I think a 3 man CM would be best, have players that can pass the ball neatly while also having an eye for the long through balls.
That thought leads me to thinking our best CM for the opening day could be Torreira, Guendouzi and Elneny. High energy and the mix of Elneny with Torreira can allow Guendouzi to press higher up while not letting his calmness on the ball cost us at moments of inexperience.
For me, Lich has to start at RB, that long ball to Laca was something that’ll cause City headaches. I was impressed with how Lich not only playing well but he seemed to have a moment to talk to Bellerin during the switch, was this advice?
We can beat City if we have a good game, our players have the quality and if they have a good day then we can bag the points!
?Lichtsteiner must start over Bellerin.
I would take 2 points from opening 2 matches. IMO that would be a great start, a bonus if we can win one of them, which I don’t see why we can’t.
No. The least will be 4.
……………..Laca
Auba……………………Ozil
…………Mkhi…Guen
……………Elneny
Amn……………………Lich
……..Sokra..Cham
…………..Cech
Or
………Ozil…Auba
Iwobi………………Nelson
……Elneny..Guen
Amn………………Bellerin
……Sokra.Must
…………Leno
Or
………….Laca
Iwobi.Ram.Rowe.Mkhi
………….Guen
Amn………………..Bell
……..Hold.Cham
………..Martinez
Guendouzi and Elneny
Ozil and Mkhi
Auba and laca
Sokratis and Mustafi or Mavropanos
Amn and Iwobi
Rowe and Nelson
Have all been working well in there pairings so we just need the right combos to fit into the team!
GUENDOUZI is our most important player by far!!!!
I am greedy, we have to go for it, six points and nothing less
From what i have seen so far we will play a 433 this season for most of the games.
It looks likely that on of Laca, Auba,Mhki,Ozil will be on the subs bench at the start of the games.
Only when we are playing weaker opposition can we get away with a4231 and play all four of them.
We have not yet solved our GK problem, Cech is relishing the competition from Leno but neither are World Class. Hopefully Leno can grow into a top keeper.
Defense is also not fully there yet. Today Mustafi didnt even play which begs the question is he even in Unai’s plans. Chambers and Holding looked pretty good defensively but i am not sure that’s the pairing that Unai is going to go with
Lichtsteiner is a hard headed nasty piece of work and exactly what i like in a defender. I think he will start over Bellerin and Hector can learn a lot from him this year. AMN looks like he will deputize the LB position at least in the beginning of the season.
In the middle of the park we have Guendouzi who is a revelation, specially the wau he takes the ball out of defense is very mature. Torreira first match he didnt shine a lot but from what I have seen in the WC he is a top DM and will be a starter. Ramsey, Xhaka, will probably be the other tow with Torreira in the first game.
Our attack is not going to be in issue this year. Auba, Laca, Ozil, Mhki, Nelson, Iwobi, Nketiah all looked good and are ready to play.
My prediction against Man City
Cech-Licht-Papa-Mustafi-Amn-Torreira-Xhaka-Ramsey-Mhki-Ozil-Auba
Subs: Leno-Bellerin-Mavros-Guendouzi-Iwobi-Nelson-Laca
I haven’t noticed a GK problem and I haven’t missed a match of preseason.
Cech looks like he is at least half a decade younger and more like the GK he was at Chelsea than the GK he became since joining us.
No GK problem, the problem is CB, Mustafi and Sokratis are not WC and I fear every attack that gets thrown their way.
Cech is far from the issue, you’d know this if you watched the games though.
Emery has inherited a squad with very strong midfield and attack but poor defense…top 3 is guarantee if defense is strengthen …maybe even the title
inherited strong midfield u say? he inherited poor midfield. Addition of Guendouzi and Toreirra and more hard work from others will make the midfield strong. Unai only inherited good and prolific forwards from Arsene.
mikhi, ozil, xhaka, ramsay ….full recognised internationals….and our midfield not strong?
we lack good defensive options including cb, dm, gk etc….. hence why we get beaten so easily
?
For City
4-2-2-2
…………………………Cech
Lichtsteiner. ..Sokratis…Mustafi….Niles
Toreira….Guendouzi
Mkhitaryan…Ozil
Aubameyang. …Lacazette
I like 4-2-2-2 because it allows Aubameyang and Lacazette to play up front and it also allows two CAMs (Ozil and Mkhitaryan)
If Emery wants to surprise I also like:
3-4-1-2
………………………Cech
……..Sokratis…Mustafi…Chambers
Licht…Torreira…Ramsey/Xhaka…Niles
……………………OZIL/MKHI*
………Aubameyang….Lacazette
*( / means either/or)
If Emery wants to surprise with only 1 up front then then add CAM and subtract Lacazette and change above to 3-4-2-1
……………………..Same
……………………..Same
……………………..Same
………………Ozil……..Mkhitaryan
………………..Aubameyang
Im against playing Aubameyang as a winger and both Lacazette and Aubameyang are too good to bench. So playing two up front seems best unless Emery wishes to rotate.
Problem is we lack quality wingers
If the transfer rrumours were True id go with this.
………………………..Cech
Lichtsteiner….VIDA…Mustafi….Niles
……………Torreira……..Ramsey/Xhaka
DEMBELE……..Mkhitaryan ……….Ozil*
…………………..Aubameyang
(* Ozil used to play LW for Germany)
He was an LW for germany when he was fast and can get past through opponents.. Now he’s slow and can’t dribble his way out so NO! I’d say bench ozil he’s overrated
I think it is a mistake to start talking about challenging for the title. It underestimates the job the manager has and the strengths of our opponents.
A more realistic aim would be to expect a real improvement over the last 5-10 seasons in terms of team effort and discipline but this will take time.
To expect any results in the first 2 games seems unreasonable to me.
I love what I have seen from the manager thus far but realize he has limited tools to work with when it comes to his defenders and he has had very little time to get used to the PL (none at all really). If we lose the first 2 games I will still be looking forward to the season.
Hallelujah! Someone writing with a fully developed sense of perspective and common sense. How thrilling to read! I , of course, totally agree. Rome was not built in a day and Emery had to inherit a club with NO defensive nous at all. WENGER LEFT A DISGRACEFUL MESS IN DEFENCE AND IN LACK OF ORGANISATION AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL. ANY evidence whatever of defensive coaching from him would have been a major shock. The dynamic Emery had to inherit this mess and clearly it will take time and more new signings plus the removal of WENGERS MILDEW LEFT BEHIND, BEFORE WE CAN SERIOUSLY CHALLENGE FOR THE TITLE. I give us a chance, no more than that, of taking fourth spot and a cup, even the Europa, given a fair wind and the new professional(at long last!) team who are now in charge. Realism all day long . Nonsensical hype just harms us.
??
So Arsenal areon course to win the ICC cup..what a morale booster for the upcoming season..
I am hoping for the best. I somehow believe that Emery is better than Wenger (a stubborn Frenchman). We should be worried about counter attacks the most and City are good on that perspective. Chelsea looks shaky and underrated like us, however history favors Arsenal at Mou’s vacuum.
I will be comfortable for 2-6 points. We don’t need to lose this one. Come on Emery!
Lichsteiner looked really solid yesterday! His passing, movement and maturity really showed. 5× better than Bellerin who got rekt by Hudson-Odoi. I hope he takes the RB spot for the Man city game and even the other games.
?QD spot on; Lichtsteiner’s experience and winning mentality will be important against players such as Sane, Aguero, Jesus, Mahrez and Sterling.
Racism at its best nowadays ask mesut ozil. It is too unfortunate God made people with different skin colours
leno
Lochratis Chambers Mustfi
Lich Tor xhaka Rum Niles
Ozil;. mikha, ozil
auba
shut it up chiza u r a big fool, it’s early moring to u guys, u came here every day and abuse wenger,the only manager in arsenal history who gave Africans opportunities in Africa, everything wenger built in arsenal will soon be destroyed, the only reason racism has no place in arsenal over the years is just bco we had a great man and a great manager who have great value for humanity right from his days @ FC Monaco, watch out very very soon African players playing for arsenal FC will be a thing of the past,
If they’re black and not Africans then we’re cool with it. So your statement “watch out very very soon African players playing for arsenal FC will be a thing of the past” isn’t logical. Kindly shut up
I could not agree more with what you have said about Arsene @ monaco. I also believe that anyone who comes to this and is racist should be banned from here. I believe admin will do that without waiting to be asked.
I would be very surprised if African players cease playing for Arsenal so cannot agree with you on that.
I Like Emery Because His Working Hard And Makes Player Work Had In Training I Hope We Get Vida I Liked What I Saw At The World Cup First Two Game We’ve Got Hard Teams So It Might Not Go Our Cause Our Team Is On A New Path But I Believe In This Team
@Uchman, if such happens then be ready for more arsenal decline.Incase you dont know France won the Almighty world cup with 80% Africans.So just take you pills and go to bed.
#SAYNOTORACISM
Lichtsteiner is not here to teach Bellerin. He’s playing like he’s here to take his shirt.
?
Chiza.. everyone follows this site as we all love Arsenal!
Can’t you just let it go? I believe Phil gives as good as he gets… and I don’t blame him. I’ve had dodgy things said to me… a few people have on here! Admin has said he can’t be on here 24/7 as he does have a life!!
At the end of the day we’re all gooners!!
We will most definitely suprise the league this season.. Nothing wrong with being abit confident facing top teams.. Manchester city cant win with the same team.. Man u hasnt made any huge signings chelsea average.. Tottenham not a factor.. Liverpool though..
Arsenal playing well and scoring goals won’t be a surprise to anyone as we’ve been doing that for over 20 years now. We already have a good enough squad, our fringe players aren’t that bad. Injuries and poor tactics will be our biggest problem this year. As long as we don’t suffer too many injuries, I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I expect (read hope) Arsenal will finish 2nd or 3rd.
Whilst I`m sure Emery will try his very best to get Arsenal into the top four I have a gut feeling there is a secret three year plan to “spend as you go” and test the ground before spending big money. They may have even put a target date (year) to strike for the title. Don`t expect too much this season.