Arsenal: Unai Emery and his best difference to Arsene Wenger

One thing that always infuriated me with Arsene Wenger was the hesitation of his substitutions. It is the best difference between him and Arsenal’s new head coach, his successor, Unai Emery.

Unai Emery will be very different to Arsene Wenger. Anyone who replaced the great Arsenal manager would be. We, as humans, all have different characteristics and personality traits, different skill sets and attributes and philosophies and values. They shape who we are, what we do and how we do things. And being a football manager is no different.

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We are yet to really see the true disparity between these men. Emery is less than three months into his time in north London. Wenger had nearly 22 years. It is hardly fair to start comparing notes now. But there is one clear distinction that we have seen in both Premier League matches played thus far, the second of which was a disappointing 3-2 loss at Chelsea on Saturday evening, that I want to highlight: the use of substitutions.

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Wenger was notoriously hesitant and reactive with his substitutions. Rarely would he make one before the 70th minute, and when he did it was only because his initial team selection was so drastically wrong that he even had to admit that change was needed. By that point, any change that did come was somewhat obsolete. His is a reactionary manager when it comes to his in-game tactics. He trusts his players innately, which is as much a fault as it is respectable, and it often means that he is far too patient when he, them or a combination of the two have got it wrong.

It is very, very different with Emery. In the two competitive games that Emery has taken charge of Arsenal in, he has made all three substitutions on both occasions, with the latest of any of the six coming in the 75th minute against Chelsea, Alexandre Lacazette introduced to help find the winning goal.

Indeed, in the defeat to Chelsea, Emery hauled off Granit Xhaka at half-time, replacing him with Lucas Torreira, and then, in the 68th minute, substituted Mesut Ozil for Aaron Ramsey. Ozil was enduring a difficult match. Emery was ruthless and brought off a player that Wenger would never have dreamed to substitute unless for saving his legs.

Similarly, the week prior, Emery had made all three substitutions by the 70th minute, the last being Torreira for Xhaka again. Admittedly, on this occasion, his hand was forced somewhat with Ainsley Maitland-Niles forced off midway through the first half and Stephan Lichtsteiner brought on in his place, a change that I am sure Emery would not have made had he not been forced to.

In the same game, Lacazette was brought on for Ramsey in the 54th minute, with the team shape shifted and the approach of the match altered. On this occasion, the change worked. Arsenal looked far more potent with Lacazette on the pitch than they ever had done prior to his arrival, even if City scored soon after. But even if it hadn’t have worked, the very fact that Emery was willing to admit his mistake and recognise where, how and when to remedy it is thoroughly refreshing.

We are still learning about Emery and his coaching style. With every passing game, another layer is unveiled. And with each revelation, we see that he is different to Wenger. In some ways, it’s good; in others, not so. But, right now, his aggressive substitutions might be the very best change. It’s lovely to see.