Arsenal: Next few games crucial for Uni Emery’s era

After all the hyperbole, it is time to sit back, let the dust settle and give Unai Emery’s Arsenal a chance to find their feet.

Arsenal‘s first two games in the Premier League were probably ones that Unai Emery wants to forget. It would have been difficult for any team to face the champions, let alone a team that have just appointed a brand new manager.

The Chelsea game was set under different circumstances, with two new managers coming head-to-head. The result wasn’t a positive one for Arsenal, but the game showed signs of what the new ‘Emery Era’ will bring.

The missed chances clearly need to be addressed; however, the fight in the team to bring the game back from two goals down is something to get excited about. Last season we lacked, well, a lot, but significantly a fighting spirit and passion to get back into games – which we did have for the game against the blues.

As usual, there are Arsenal fans among us who are already – whether ironically or not – suggesting the notion that Emery isn’t the right fit for the Gunners, or shouldn’t be “getting away” with certain things.

The fact that we have faced two formidable and potential title winning challengers in our first two games should count for a lot. The hyperbole and overreaction from not just the media (which we should expect, especially with Arsenal) but also the fans is somewhat confusing. You wanted Wenger out, yet can’t adhere to change – even though you wanted it?

It’s almost like getting an Xbox for Christmas, then crying to your parents that you wanted a PS4. Your parents, after years of ignoring you, then buy you a PS4 and then all of sudden you don’t want it anymore. Maybe that’s a poor metaphor, but you get the point.

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The next few games against “lesser” (if you can call it that) opposition should be the real test – right now – for Emery’s Arsenal. Remember, this is a man bought in to get us, first of all, back into the Champions League.

As far as I’m aware, and I’m sure I’m not alone, I don’t consider us to be Premier League contenders. I’d be kidding myself if I thought we could compete against the likes of Man City – who were effectively profiled in a new Amazon Prime documentary, which you should definitely check out – or Liverpool – who bought in some excellent names to add to their already brilliant squad – or even Chelsea.

The point is that we should be aiming high, but not so high that when it doesn’t happen we are disappointed. Any new era in football takes time to be built, executed and maintained. Not only that, these days when managers leave – even after a few years in the job – the team moves in a completely different direction.

Managers have different philosophies and this time is no different. The way we play football may not visually change that much, but the methods behind them will. And that’s something we should be patient with. Additionally, there are so many more factors at play, even down to Emery’s English.

Regardless of your thoughts on the first few games, the real test of patience comes now. Facing opposition we should, on paper, have better luck with. And against teams that Sam Allardyce shouldn’t have a problem with us playing it out from back against.