Arsenal vs Newcastle: Sometimes it’s okay to follow the momentum

Arsenal are a new club under Unai Emery, and that’s a good thing, but that doesn’t mean that he has to cling to everything like a rule.

Unai Emery has made it a point to not make too many decisions at Arsenal based on what has worked, but rather focusing on everything in the here and now, in an isolation chamber. It’s part of what makes him so special as a manager. He isn’t the kind of guy who is going to take the easy decisions.

Rather, he embraces the hard ones. Just because something worked the match before doesn’t mean he is going to carry it over into the next match. In fact, it often means that he specifically won’t carry it over into the next match, solely to embrace this new concept that is directly opposite to Arsene Wenger sticking – almost nauseatingly so – to a plan for matches at a time, successes or not.

But that doesn’t mean that Emery always has to make hard decisions when an easy one is the best way forward.

I’m speaking about the formation of choice against Newcastle. Context clues would say that there is no way in hell Emery opts for the same formation three matches in a row. Hell, context clues also said that there was no way that he would opt for the same formation for two matches in a row, even though he did.

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

But the thing is, each of these matches has clear, shared ground. each one has been at home with an opponent that we had every right beating. Rennes at home was a match we deserved to dominated and Manchester United was a matter of matching them position for position, which we did to perfection.

Newcastle aren’t any different. This is a match we should hope to dominate, so there’s no reason to go experimenting beyond what is necessary. I love Emery’s tendency to experiment, but at this point in the season, just ride that wave of momentum, because it’s working, and the circumstances aren’t changing yet.

Now, come an away match against Watford or Wolves, we can have a different conversation then, but then is not now.

Right now, the best thing we have is this 3-5-2 formation, it plays to all of our strengths, and at the fortress known as the Emirates, it is the best way to set the team up to simply overpower opposition capable of being overpowered.