Arsenal: Jury still out on Unai Emery

Is Unai Emery the right manager for Arsenal? For his first season to be a success, he must secure Champions League football, either through to the top four or Europa League. But until that time, the jury is still out.

With 10 games left between now and May 12th, and hopefully two additional games if Arsenal progress in the Europa League, there is a lot of pressure to finally on the club re-emerge as a genuine contender, a perennial top-four team in the Premier League once again and Champion’s League football.

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Whether you like it or not, May 12th is judgement day. That’s when all fans and pundits alike will state their proclamations. And for Unai Emery, it will be a declaration of his coaching qualities.

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And the pressure is real. Arsenal are in a favoured position in the Premier League. No remaining games against a top-six team and standing alone in fourth place, their destiny firmly in their own hands — well somewhat like a hot potato, but it is in their hands. Their injury list is also quite minimal compared to that of Manchester United, and they have four home games remaining, where their record has been commendable.

Arsenal have improved this season, but I often wonder what Arsene Wenger would have done with the striking partnership of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette for a full season together. Not to mention a new keeper, Bernd Leno, a new centre-back, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and a capable defensive midfielder, Lucas Torreira.

Lacazette was new to the league and oft-injured last season, while Aubameyang was a mid-season acquisition. We never got to see a full season under Wenger. I am sure it would have been fascinating viewing.

With games about to come thick and fast, approximately every four days, over the next month and a half, and two clearly attainable chances to qualify for Champions League, Emery, the man who has made the most of a full season of two brilliant centre-forwards, has a massive job ahead to get Arsenal to where they want to be.

In the Premier League, he must manoeuvre his way through tough competition the likes of Newcastle United, who are in great form with three wins and a draw in their last five games, and Everton, who just beat Chelsea, as well as tricky away trips to Watford and Wolves. And dare we forget the Europa League. Home and away to Carlo Ancelotti and Napoli.

It won’t be easy, but Emery has the credentials. He did win an unprecedented three consecutive Europa League titles with Sevilla. But if he does not match the semi-final mark of Wenger last season, should the European escapades be considered a disappointment? Perhaps.

One way to end all doubt would be to squeeze into the top four and maybe even pip Tottenham Hotspur. Then Emery can rest easy, knowing that his first season as head coach was a success. Until that time, though, the jury is still out.