Arsenal: Unai Emery really is doing something new

In Unai Emery’s first season in charge, Arsenal are currently on pace to amass 79 Premier League points. Arsene Wenger only did that five times. The Spaniard really is doing something new.

When Unai Emery walked into London Colney on July 1st, no one really knew what to expect. Arsene Wenger had managed Arsenal for many of the fans’ entire lifetimes. The squad was in a state of great flux and transition. The Premier League seemed fiercer than ever. Emery’s task was far from enviable.

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And when he was asked what success would be in his introductory press conference in late May, Emery, clearly aware of the pitfalls of putting a number to the answer by which to hang himself, simply said, ‘progress’. Well, three months into his reign, it is fair to say that progress is the least of what he has achieved.

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Arsenal are currently on a 15-game unbeaten run in all competitions. They have risen to fifth in the table and seem to be improving with every passing week, their best performance of the year coming in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool. That is clear progress. But it is just the start of the new life that Emery is breathing into the corridors at the Emirates.

After 11 games, the Gunners have 23 points. Assuming they carry on the same pace for the full season, they will finish with 79.45 points. Throughout the 22 years of Wenger’s reign, they topped the 80-point mark only four times, all of which came in 2008 or earlier. In fact, in the last decade under Wenger, Arsenal bettered 75 points just once, amassing 79 in the 2013-14 season. Emery really is doing new things.

It is more than just the points, though. Emery has led this team to 25 goals already this season — only Chelsea and Manchester City have scored more. If they continue at the same pace, they would score 86 across a 38-game league campaign. Wenger only topped 80 goals three times during his tenure, the highest being just 87.

Now, there are some defensive problems to solve. A current pace of 48 goals conceded across a full season is not good. Only twice did the north London outfit concede more than that under Wenger, one of which was last season when they allowed a staggeringly poor 51. But only five of them have come in the past six league matches, against strong, high-scoring opposition like Liverpool, Everton and Leicester City.

And even more than just the results, the goals and the performances, there is a new, united, connected feel around the club. The very chant, ‘we’ve got our Arsenal back’ tells you everything you need to know.

Emery really is breathing new life into this club. And it is absolutely wonderful to watch.