It is totally amazing that Arsenal have won 11 games in a row, but even more amazing is the fact that the Gunners have not been leading at half-time in every single one of those games, and sometimes we’ve even been lucky to not go into the break with a deficit. Unai Emery admits its a problem, and he is hoping to find a solution with his players. He said after the Lisbon game: “The match is 90 minutes and different things happened tactically and individually in the game,”
“In the game, the team deserved to win this match. But the first half is not clear for us.
“The balance for the two teams, I think there are a lot of chances to score. And in the second half, I think, step-by-step, we imposed our jobs and we imposed our good play in the second half.
“For us it’s very important, because we want to finish first in this group and at the moment, the other team who is with us is Sporting Clube de Portugal and we are happy. But also, for continuing our process with the players, different players and also with the rhythm with every player in all the matches we are playing, I think there are positive things today here in this work.
“Each match is a very big opportunity to improve things and one thing is this. We spoke in the dressing room before the start of the match today about our objectives. And one objective is this. But the most important thing is that when we were in the dressing room at half-time, we spoke.
“We cannot impose our ideas in the first 45 minutes but in the second half we have the chance and the opportunity to change the result and continue in our way, thinking only to win this match and to improve things in the second half. I think we did that in the 45 minutes of the second half. But we need to continue finding the solution for us to be better in the first halves.”
So why do you think we only take control after the break? Is it because of Emery’s half time team talk? Is it because the boss has had a chance to see where our opponents weaknesses are (and ours!) and make the necessary changes to make the difference? Or is it simply that our squad is so much fitter this season and can assert their superiority as our opponents get tired?
What do you think the reason is?
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