Arsenal: Next up on Unai Emery’s chore list – answers

Arsenal were simply out-dueled against Wolverhampton and Unai Emery was at the crux of the problem, so the next task for him is to answer.

Arsenal‘s draw (I accidentally keep typing ‘loss’ and have to correct myself) against Wolverhampton Wanderers wasn’t a setback in the undefeated streak, but it was a setback in the confidence of the team, and the confidence that fans have in that team.

The club looked hollow, flat, and, worst of all, uninterested. As if they couldn’t be bothered to change the game. The compact defense of Wolves continued to stymy the Gunners attack and I have to be honest, it was incredibly hard luck that the Wolves didn’t take all three points.

What this comes down to is Unai Emery trying to do the same thing and not being able to. He has been brilliant in finding solutions to whatever comes at him. Most times that involves making corrections at half, but still, it’s been working.

Against Wolverhampton, it just didn’t work. Everyone was waiting for a second half comeback and it just never happened. Even the goal was a stroke of good fortune, and not a perfectly-crafted move or anything like that.

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This is natural. Same as with players, new managers have to learn the lay of the land before they can really settle into a their club. Emery has never coached in England, where there are literally no ‘throwaway’ games, so it was only sensible to anticipate that at some point, he would face tactics he couldn’t break down.

That’s fine, and it won’t be the last time. This is a game of innovation and it is constantly evolving. What works one week is never guaranteed to work the next.

All this to say that the next thing that Unai Emery has to do is provide answers next time out. It’s both good and bad that the next game isn’t for two weeks. Bad, because we, as fans, want to get back out there and see the club be beautiful again. Good, because it gives Emery time to ponder things out. And it, hopefully, gives guys like Nacho Monreal time to get healthy.

Whatever the case, we do need to see more of Emery’s tactical innovation when everything gets back into action. Any flatness when the club comes back against Bournemouth and there are going to be more than questions. That panic will start to multiply.