Arsenal: Unai Emery not solved Arsene Wenger’s ‘decline’

In an interview with Marca, Unai Emery has slated Arsene Wenger’s declining defensive structure at Arsenal. The problem, though, is that he is yet to solve it.

Under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal were poor defensively. They lacked structure and discipline. They were loose in their positions, untamed in their decision-making, and riddled with individual errors.

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And it led to a series of defensive humiliations and rather horrific statistical traits: they conceded more goals than Newcastle United and only five fewer than Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion, two teams that got relegated that season. The defensive vulnerabilities were a key reason as to why Wenger was ultimately asked to resign.

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It is also why Unai Emery was hired in his stead. And as Emery indeed noted this week in an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, there were some seriously deep-rooted problems at the club:

"“Before Wenger arrived, Arsenal celebrated the 1-0 wins and were based on defensive solidity. With Arsene, they became an attacking team, with players who were good on the ball, and the perfect combination came with The Invincibles [when an unbeaten Arsenal won the 2003-04 Premier League]. But with time, you can only take care of technique and attacking freedom, losing your defensive structure. What I want to do is unite the two and become more competitive. Arsenal were falling. We had to stop that and start to lift them.”"

They seem like harsh words. They are harsh words. But there is an element of truth to them. The problem for Emery, though, is that the disrespect that is shown is not combatted by the results this season.

You see, Emery’s harsh words could be more easily swallowed had he made substantial improvements in the defensive area. But he hasn’t. Arsenal are not any better defensively than they were under Wenger — admittedly, it is still very early days and it would be harsh to judge a coach who has had six months to instill his ideas in comparison to a coach who has had 22 years.

The Gunners, through 13 matches, have conceded 15 goals this season. They are thereby on pace to concede 43.8 goals. That is only 7.2 goals better than last year’s pitiful effort of 51 goals conceded. And their expected goals conceded this season, 17.19, estimates that Emery’s team will concede 50.2 goals, just 0.8 better than last season.

The ‘decline’ that Wenger allowed to happen over the past few years has not been stopped by Emery this year. As stated, that does not mean that Emery is incapable of changing the course of this team. There have been positive signs in recent weeks, especially since Lucas Torreira has been inserted into the defensive midfield role, but the defensive worries still preside.

Emery has not solved the ‘decline’ of the defensive vulnerabilities. Not yet anyway. There is still a lot of work to be done. Let’s hope that Emery can do differently to Wenger.