Arsenal Vs Manchester United: Unai Emery nailed it

Unai Emery was bold in his Arsenal selection ahead of Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United. Thankfully, he absolutely nailed it.

When Unai Emery arrived at Arsenal, there were some questions regarding his coaching acumen. Although he had great success with Sevilla and Valencia in Spain, his time with Paris Saint-Germain brought a whole host of domestic trophies but ultimately fell short in the Champions League.

Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — Rubbish Rennes, Article of the Week

Much of his first season in north London, then, from a fan’s perspective, at least, was about determining whether he was the top quality coach that Arsenal obviously believed that he was when he was appointed in the summer.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Initially, he shined. His passion was undeniable. His impassioned displays on the sidelines, turning the fans and demanding a reaction from them, kicking every ball, bellowing instructions at his players. He talked with great awareness and intelligence in press conferences, extolling the importance of the process, not getting carried away with the slightly empty results during 22-game unbeaten run.

But these elements to his managerial style were all personality traits. Anyone can speak astutely in press conferences and run up and down the touchline with frenzied arms. They spoke little to his actual coaching skill? Could he develop a system that overawed the opposition? Could he add tactical wrinkles to disarm particular opposition? Could he improve individual players and the collective unit through his work on the training ground? These were all questions that were yet to be answered.

That is why, I believe, Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United is so significant. Emery changed the style that he has used in recent weeks. He turned to a back three, inserted a raft of attacking players in an extremely aggressive style, and played with two centre-forwards, an approach that I felt he had moved away from.

The bold move paid off. Arsenal played on the front foot to open the match, not allowing Man. United to settle into their normal rhythms. The front two pulled the United centre-backs apart, creating pockets for Mesut Ozil in central areas, so much so that Ole Gunnar Solksjaer felt it necessary to shift to a back three to limit the threat they posed. And the presence of the wing-backs prevented United from overloading the wide areas.

In the second half, Emery remained bold, though instilling more balance. Arsenal allowed United more possession, taking a deeper defensive line, but still had Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette pushed high up the pitch to pose a threat on the counter-attack. That threat stretched the pitch and riddled an element of caution and uncertainty in United’s play, recognising that any mistake could be punished.

Unai Emery got his tactics spot on. He did the same against Spurs last week. And against Chelsea earlier this year. Perhaps he is not just an inspiring character after all.